Linux Kernel up to 5.15.125/6.1.44/6.4.9 net/core/xdp.c cpu_map_kthread_run privilege escalation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.125/6.1.44/6.4.9. This affects the function cpu_map_kthread_run of the file net/core/xdp.c. This manipulation causes an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-53660. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.125/6.1.44/6.4.9. Affected by this vulnerability is the function cpu_map_kthread_run of the file net/core/xdp.c. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, cpumap: Handle skb as well when clean up ptr_ring The following warning was reported when running xdp_redirect_cpu with both skb-mode and stress-mode enabled: ------------[ cut here ]------------ Incorrect XDP memory type (-2128176192) usage WARNING: CPU: 7 PID: 1442 at net/core/xdp.c:405 Modules linked in: CPU: 7 PID: 1442 Comm: kworker/7:0 Tainted: G 6.5.0-rc2+ #1 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996) Workqueue: events __cpu_map_entry_free RIP: 0010:__xdp_return+0x1e4/0x4a0 ...... Call Trace: <TASK> ? show_regs+0x65/0x70 ? __warn+0xa5/0x240 ? __xdp_return+0x1e4/0x4a0 ...... xdp_return_frame+0x4d/0x150 __cpu_map_entry_free+0xf9/0x230 process_one_work+0x6b0/0xb80 worker_thread+0x96/0x720 kthread+0x1a5/0x1f0 ret_from_fork+0x3a/0x70 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1b/0x30 </TASK> The reason for the warning is twofold. One is due to the kthread cpu_map_kthread_run() is stopped prematurely. Another one is __cpu_map_ring_cleanup() doesn't handle skb mode and treats skbs in ptr_ring as XDP frames. Prematurely-stopped kthread will be fixed by the preceding patch and ptr_ring will be empty when __cpu_map_ring_cleanup() is called. But as the comments in __cpu_map_ring_cleanup() said, handling and freeing skbs in ptr_ring as well to "catch any broken behaviour gracefully".

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-53660 since 10/07/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 03/01/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.15.126, 6.1.45 or 6.4.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b58d34068fd9f96bfc7d389988dfaf9a92a8fe00/cbd000451885801e9bbfd9cf7a7946806a85cb5e/937345720d18f1ad006ba3d5dcb3fa121037b8a2/7c62b75cd1a792e14b037fa4f61f9b18914e7de1 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-2025-31944) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2229). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• Dell NetWorker

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.125
• 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
• 6.1.39
• 6.1.40
• 6.1.41
• 6.1.42
• 6.1.43
• 6.1.44
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3
• 6.4.4
• 6.4.5
• 6.4.6
• 6.4.7
• 6.4.8
• 6.4.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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