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🛡️ CVE-2023-53233 — kernel

🟡 CVSS 5.5 — Medium ✅ No Known Exploit NVD
5.5
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

net/smc: fix deadlock triggered by cancel_delayed_work_syn()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/smc: fix deadlock triggered by cancel_delayed_work_syn()

The following LOCKDEP was detected:

Workqueue: events smc_lgr_free_work [smc]

WARNING: possible circular locking dependency detected

6.1.0-20221027.rc2.git8.56bc5b569087.300.fc36.s390x+debug #1 Not tainted

------------------------------------------------------

kworker/3:0/176251 is trying to acquire lock:

00000000f1467148 ((wq_completion)smc_tx_wq-00000000#2){+.+.}-{0:0},

at: __flush_workqueue+0x7a/0x4f0

but task is already holding lock:

0000037fffe97dc8 ((work_completion)(&(&lgr->free_work)->work)){+.+.}-{0:0},

at: process_one_work+0x232/0x730

which lock already depends on the new lock.

the existing dependency chain (in reverse order) is:

-> #4 ((work_completion)(&(&lgr->free_work)->work)){+.+.}-{0:0}:

__lock_acquire+0x58e/0xbd8

lock_acquire.part.0+0xe2/0x248

lock_acquire+0xac/0x1c8

__flush_work+0x76/0xf0

__cancel_work_timer+0x170/0x220

__smc_lgr_terminate.part.0+0x34/0x1c0 [smc]

smc_connect_rdma+0x15e/0x418 [smc]

__smc_connect+0x234/0x480 [smc]

smc_connect+0x1d6/0x230 [smc]

__sys_connect+0x90/0xc0

__do_sys_socketcall+0x186/0x370

__do_syscall+0x1da/0x208

system_call+0x82/0xb0

-> #3 (smc_client_lgr_pending){+.+.}-{3:3}:

__lock_acquire+0x58e/0xbd8

lock_acquire.part.0+0xe2/0x248

lock_acquire+0xac/0x1c8

__mutex_lock+0x96/0x8e8

mutex_lock_nested+0x32/0x40

smc_connect_rdma+0xa4/0x418 [smc]

__smc_connect+0x234/0x480 [smc]

smc_connect+0x1d6/0x230 [smc]

__sys_connect+0x90/0xc0

__do_sys_socketcall+0x186/0x370

__do_syscall+0x1da/0x208

system_call+0x82/0xb0

-> #2 (sk_lock-AF_SMC){+.+.}-{0:0}:

__lock_acquire+0x58e/0xbd8

lock_acquire.part.0+0xe2/0x248

lock_acquire+0xac/0x1c8

lock_sock_nested+0x46/0xa8

smc_tx_work+0x34/0x50 [smc]

process_one_work+0x30c/0x730

worker_thread+0x62/0x420

kthread+0x138/0x150

__ret_from_fork+0x3c/0x58

ret_from_fork+0xa/0x40

-> #1 ((work_completion)(&(&smc->conn.tx_work)->work)){+.+.}-{0:0}:

__lock_acquire+0x58e/0xbd8

lock_acquire.part.0+0xe2/0x248

lock_acquire+0xac/0x1c8

process_one_work+0x2bc/0x730

worker_thread+0x62/0x420

kthread+0x138/0x150

__ret_from_fork+0x3c/0x58

ret_from_fork+0xa/0x40

-> #0 ((wq_completion)smc_tx_wq-00000000#2){+.+.}-{0:0}:

check_prev_add+0xd8/0xe88

validate_chain+0x70c/0xb20

__lock_acquire+0x58e/0xbd8

lock_acquire.part.0+0xe2/0x248

lock_acquire+0xac/0x1c8

__flush_workqueue+0xaa/0x4f0

drain_workqueue+0xaa/0x158

destroy_workqueue+0x44/0x2d8

smc_lgr_free+0x9e/0xf8 [smc]

process_one_work+0x30c/0x730

worker_thread+0x62/0x420

kthread+0x138/0x150

__ret_from_fork+0x3c/0x58

ret_from_fork+0xa/0x40

other info that might help us debug this:

Chain exists of:

(wq_completion)smc_tx_wq-00000000#2

--> smc_client_lgr_pending

--> (work_completion)(&(&lgr->free_work)->work)

Possible unsafe locking scenario:

CPU0 CPU1

---- ----

lock((work_completion)(&(&lgr->free_work)->work));

lock(smc_client_lgr_pending);

lock((work_completion)

(&(&lgr->free_work)->work));

lock((wq_completion)smc_tx_wq-00000000#2);

* DEADLOCK *

2 locks held by kworker/3:0/176251:

#0: 0000000080183548

((wq_completion)events){+.+.}-{0:0},

at: process_one_work+0x232/0x730

#1: 0000037fffe97dc8

((work_completion)

(&(&lgr->free_work)->work)){+.+.}-{0:0},

at: process_one_work+0x232/0x730

stack backtr

---truncated---

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity none, availability high.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

  • Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: Low — an ordinary user account is enough.
  • User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: None.
  • Integrity impact: None.
  • Availability impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.

Affected software

CVE-2023-53233 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • kernel (from 6.2.0 up to 6.2.8)
  • linux-kernel

Timeline and source

Published on 15 September 2025 and last revised on 12 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. A vendor advisory or fix has been published. Record sourced from NVD.

References

git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
git.kernel.org (Web)
github.com (Advisory)
nvd.nist.gov (Advisory)
git.kernel.org (Package)

Other advisories for this package

kernel has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

CVE-2023-53233 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity Medium
CVSS Score 5.5
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CWE N/A
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2025-09-15
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-08-12

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
kernel 6.2.0 6.2.8
linux-kernel — —

Similar Threats

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