CVE-2023-54108 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
scsi: qla2xxx: Fix DMA-API call trace on NVMe LS requests
The following message and call trace was seen with debug kernels:
DMA-API: qla2xxx 0000:41:00.0: device driver failed to check map error [device address=0x00000002a3ff38d8] [size=1024 bytes] [mapped as
single] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 2930 at kernel/dma/debug.c:1017 check_unmap+0xf42/0x1990
Call Trace: debug_dma_unmap_page+0xc9/0x100 qla_nvme_ls_unmap+0x141/0x210 [qla2xxx]
Remove DMA mapping from the driver altogether, as it is already done by FC layer. This prevents the warning.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-54108 affects the Linux kernel's SCSI driver implementation, specifically within the qla2xxx driver responsible for QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs. This issue manifests as a DMA-API call trace error that occurs during NVMe Login Service (LS) requests processing, representing a critical flaw in the kernel's memory management subsystem. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of DMA mappings within the driver's NVMe LS request processing path, creating a scenario where the kernel's DMA debugging infrastructure detects a failure in the driver's mapping verification process.
The technical flaw resides in the qla2xxx driver's implementation where it attempts to perform DMA unmap operations on NVMe LS requests that are already managed by the underlying Fibre Channel layer. This double handling creates a conflict in the kernel's DMA mapping subsystem, specifically triggering the kernel/dma/debug.c module at line 1017 within the check_unmap function. The error message indicates that a device driver failed to properly check map operations with a specific device address 0x0000000002a3ff38d8 and size 1024 bytes, mapped as a single entity. The call trace demonstrates that the debug_dma_unmap_page function invokes qla_nvme_ls_unmap which then attempts to perform an unmapping operation that conflicts with existing mappings already handled by the FC layer.
This vulnerability presents significant operational impact within enterprise storage environments that rely on QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs for NVMe over Fabrics connectivity. The warning message indicates potential memory corruption or resource management issues that could lead to system instability, data integrity concerns, or performance degradation in storage I/O operations. The issue particularly affects systems running debug kernels where DMA debugging is enabled, though the underlying flaw could potentially manifest in production environments under specific conditions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of buffer boundaries, and represents a violation of the DMA API contract where drivers must properly coordinate with the kernel's DMA subsystem. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged in supply chain attacks targeting enterprise storage infrastructure or used to create persistent denial-of-service conditions in critical storage environments.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves removing all DMA mapping operations from the driver's NVMe LS request processing path, as the Fibre Channel layer already handles these operations appropriately. This solution follows the principle of least privilege and proper resource management by eliminating redundant operations that create conflicts within the kernel's memory management subsystem. System administrators should update to kernel versions containing the fix, which removes the redundant DMA mapping calls and ensures proper coordination between the driver and the FC layer. Organizations should also implement monitoring for DMA-related warnings in production systems and consider reviewing other drivers that may exhibit similar patterns of redundant DMA operations. The fix addresses the fundamental issue by ensuring that the qla2xxx driver properly delegates DMA management to the appropriate subsystem rather than attempting to manage these resources independently, thereby preventing the kernel's DMA debugging infrastructure from triggering warnings that could indicate more serious underlying issues.