🛡️ CVE-2023-54181 — kernel

⚪ Unknown ✅ No Known Exploit NVD
N/A
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

bpf: Fix issue in verifying allow_ptr_leaks

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

bpf: Fix issue in verifying allow_ptr_leaks

After we converted the capabilities of our networking-bpf program from

cap_sys_admin to cap_net_admin+cap_bpf, our networking-bpf program

failed to start. Because it failed the bpf verifier, and the error log

is "R3 pointer comparison prohibited".

A simple reproducer as follows,

SEC("cls-ingress")

int ingress(struct __sk_buff *skb)

{

struct iphdr *iph = (void *)(long)skb->data + sizeof(struct ethhdr);

if ((long)(iph + 1) > (long)skb->data_end)

return TC_ACT_STOLEN;

return TC_ACT_OK;

}

Per discussion with Yonghong and Alexei [1], comparison of two packet

pointers is not a pointer leak. This patch fixes it.

Our local kernel is 6.1.y and we expect this fix to be backported to

6.1.y, so stable is CCed.

[1]. https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/CAADnVQ+Nmspr7Si+pxWn8zkE7hX-7s93ugwC+94aXSy4uQ9vBg@mail.gmail.com/

Affected software

CVE-2023-54181 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • kernel (from 6.5.0 up to 6.5.3)
  • unknown

Timeline and source

Published on 30 December 2025 and last revised on 12 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from NVD.

References

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)

CVE-2023-54181 on other distributions

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

Details

Severity Unknown
CVSS Score N/A
CVSS Vector N/A
CWE N/A
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2025-12-30
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-08-12
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
kernel 6.5.0 6.5.3
unknown

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