{"cve":"CVE-2023-53354","nvd":{"published":"2025-09-17T15:15:39.403","modified":"2026-08-04T10:19:03.027","status":"Modified","description":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nskbuff: skb_segment, Call zero copy functions before using skbuff frags\n\nCommit bf5c25d60861 (\"skbuff: in skb_segment, call zerocopy functions\nonce per nskb\") added the call to zero copy functions in skb_segment().\nThe change introduced a bug in skb_segment() because skb_orphan_frags()\nmay possibly change the number of fragments or allocate new fragments\naltogether leaving nrfrags and frag to point to the old values. This can\ncause a panic with stacktrace like the one below.\n\n[  193.894380] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000000bc\n[  193.895273] CPU: 13 PID: 18164 Comm: vh-net-17428 Kdump: loaded Tainted: G           O      5.15.123+ #26\n[  193.903919] RIP: 0010:skb_segment+0xb0e/0x12f0\n[  194.021892] Call Trace:\n[  194.027422]  <TASK>\n[  194.072861]  tcp_gso_segment+0x107/0x540\n[  194.082031]  inet_gso_segment+0x15c/0x3d0\n[  194.090783]  skb_mac_gso_segment+0x9f/0x110\n[  194.095016]  __skb_gso_segment+0xc1/0x190\n[  194.103131]  netem_enqueue+0x290/0xb10 [sch_netem]\n[  194.107071]  dev_qdisc_enqueue+0x16/0x70\n[  194.110884]  __dev_queue_xmit+0x63b/0xb30\n[  194.121670]  bond_start_xmit+0x159/0x380 [bonding]\n[  194.128506]  dev_hard_start_xmit+0xc3/0x1e0\n[  194.131787]  __dev_queue_xmit+0x8a0/0xb30\n[  194.138225]  macvlan_start_xmit+0x4f/0x100 [macvlan]\n[  194.141477]  dev_hard_start_xmit+0xc3/0x1e0\n[  194.144622]  sch_direct_xmit+0xe3/0x280\n[  194.147748]  __dev_queue_xmit+0x54a/0xb30\n[  194.154131]  tap_get_user+0x2a8/0x9c0 [tap]\n[  194.157358]  tap_sendmsg+0x52/0x8e0 [tap]\n[  194.167049]  handle_tx_zerocopy+0x14e/0x4c0 [vhost_net]\n[  194.173631]  handle_tx+0xcd/0xe0 [vhost_net]\n[  194.176959]  vhost_worker+0x76/0xb0 [vhost]\n[  194.183667]  kthread+0x118/0x140\n[  194.190358]  ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30\n[  194.193670]  </TASK>\n\nIn this case calling skb_orphan_frags() updated nr_frags leaving nrfrags\nlocal variable in skb_segment() stale. This resulted in the code hitting\ni >= nrfrags prematurely and trying to move to next frag_skb using\nlist_skb pointer, which was NULL, and caused kernel panic. Move the call\nto zero copy functions before using frags and nr_frags.","cvss_v4":null,"cvss_v3":{"version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H","score":5.5},"cwes":["CWE-476"],"references":["https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/04c3eee4e13f60bf6f9a366ad39f88a01a57166e","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2ea35288c83b3d501a88bc17f2df8f176b5cc96f","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c26ed3c6abe86ddab0510529000b970b05c9b40","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8836c266201c29a5acb4f582227686f47b65ad61","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d44403ec0676317b7f7edf2a035bb219fee3304e"],"products":["linux:linux_kernel"],"source":"nvd","synced_at":"2026-10-19T22:10:08.713834912+00:00"},"epss":{"cve":"CVE-2023-53354","score":0.00205,"percentile":0.10456,"date":"2026-11-01"},"kev":null,"osv":[],"attribution":["This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.","EPSS scores: FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System, https://www.first.org/epss","Known exploited vulnerabilities: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog","Package advisories: OSV (https://osv.dev), from the GitHub Advisory Database, PyPA, Go, RustSec and other ecosystem databases, under CC-BY 4.0 or CC0","CVE records: the CVE Program's CVE List (https://www.cve.org), under its terms of use (https://www.cve.org/Legal/TermsOfUse). CVE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation; this product is not affiliated with the CVE Program."]}