CVE-2023-54133 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
nfp: clean mc addresses in application firmware when closing port
When moving devices from one namespace to another, mc addresses are cleaned in software while not removed from application firmware. Thus the mc addresses are remained and will cause resource leak.
Now use `__dev_mc_unsync` to clean mc addresses when closing port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-54133 resides within the Linux kernel's network filtering platform implementation specifically affecting the Netronome NFP (Network Flow Processor) driver. This issue manifests when network devices are migrated between different network namespaces, creating a persistent resource leak condition that can degrade system performance and potentially lead to resource exhaustion. The problem stems from an improper cleanup mechanism during port closure operations where multicast addresses are handled inconsistently across software and firmware layers.
The technical flaw occurs in the NFP driver's handling of multicast address synchronization when closing network ports. During device namespace transitions, the driver correctly removes multicast addresses from the software data structures but fails to synchronize this cleanup with the application firmware layer. This asynchronous cleanup creates a scenario where multicast addresses remain registered in the firmware while being removed from the software management structures. The root cause can be traced to the absence of proper firmware synchronization calls during the port closure sequence, specifically missing the use of kernel API functions designed for this exact purpose.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource waste to potentially compromise system stability and network performance. When multiple device migrations occur within a system, the accumulation of stale multicast addresses in firmware creates a gradual resource leak that may eventually lead to network interface exhaustion or degraded performance. Network administrators may observe increasing memory consumption or network latency issues that correlate with device namespace operations. The vulnerability affects systems running Linux kernels with NFP network drivers, particularly those utilizing Netronome network cards in virtualized or containerized environments where namespace transitions are common.
The solution implemented addresses this issue by incorporating the `__dev_mc_unsync` function during port closure operations, which ensures proper synchronization between software multicast address management and the application firmware. This function properly cleans multicast addresses in the firmware layer when ports are closed, preventing the accumulation of stale entries. The fix aligns with established kernel development practices and follows the principle of least privilege by ensuring that all resource cleanup operations are properly synchronized across all system layers. The mitigation approach prevents the resource leak by maintaining consistency between software and firmware multicast address management during device lifecycle operations.
This vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of incomplete resource management that can be categorized under CWE-404, which deals with improper resource cleanup or release. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1490, specifically resource exhaustion, where the persistent multicast address leak can lead to system resource depletion. The fix represents a standard defensive programming approach where proper API usage ensures that cleanup operations are comprehensive and synchronized across all system components. The resolution effectively closes a security gap in the kernel's network device management by ensuring complete cleanup of multicast addresses during port closure operations, preventing potential exploitation through resource exhaustion attacks.