Linux Kernel up to 5.15.120/6.1.38/6.4.3 ibmvnic dynamic_queue_limits.c netdev_tx_reset_queue buffer overflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.120/6.1.38/6.4.3. This issue affects the function netdev_tx_reset_queue in the library lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c of the component ibmvnic. Performing a manipulation results in buffer overflow. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2023-53463. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.120/6.1.38/6.4.3. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function netdev_tx_reset_queue in the library lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c of the component ibmvnic. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ibmvnic: Do not reset dql stats on NON_FATAL err All ibmvnic resets, make a call to netdev_tx_reset_queue() when re-opening the device. netdev_tx_reset_queue() resets the num_queued and num_completed byte counters. These stats are used in Byte Queue Limit (BQL) algorithms. The difference between these two stats tracks the number of bytes currently sitting on the physical NIC. ibmvnic increases the number of queued bytes though calls to netdev_tx_sent_queue() in the drivers xmit function. When, VIOS reports that it is done transmitting bytes, the ibmvnic device increases the number of completed bytes through calls to netdev_tx_completed_queue(). It is important to note that the driver batches its transmit calls and num_queued is increased every time that an skb is added to the next batch, not necessarily when the batch is sent to VIOS for transmission. Unlike other reset types, a NON FATAL reset will not flush the sub crq tx buffers. Therefore, it is possible for the batched skb array to be partially full. So if there is call to netdev_tx_reset_queue() when re-opening the device, the value of num_queued (0) would not account for the skb's that are currently batched. Eventually, when the batch is sent to VIOS, the call to netdev_tx_completed_queue() would increase num_completed to a value greater than the num_queued. This causes a BUG_ON crash: ibmvnic 30000002: Firmware reports error, cause: adapter problem. Starting recovery... ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600 ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600 ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600 ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600 ------------[ cut here ]------------ kernel BUG at lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c:27! Oops: Exception in kernel mode, sig: 5 [....] NIP dql_completed+0x28/0x1c0 LR ibmvnic_complete_tx.isra.0+0x23c/0x420 [ibmvnic] Call Trace: ibmvnic_complete_tx.isra.0+0x3f8/0x420 [ibmvnic] (unreliable) ibmvnic_interrupt_tx+0x40/0x70 [ibmvnic] __handle_irq_event_percpu+0x98/0x270 ---[ end trace ]--- Therefore, do not reset the dql stats when performing a NON_FATAL reset.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-53463 since 10/01/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 01/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.15.121, 6.1.39 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b8aedf29db1280c83191fc9579ae605791faf97f/f67ef8f9f6776e2b2073cad7c5cf29de850f83d7/91a0632e73070928aafeb36b3cc676843c716931/48538ccb825b05544ec308a509e2cc9c013402db is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at EUVD (EUVD-2025-32808) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2187). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.120
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.1.28
• 6.1.29
• 6.1.30
• 6.1.31
• 6.1.32
• 6.1.33
• 6.1.34
• 6.1.35
• 6.1.36
• 6.1.37
• 6.1.38
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Discussion