Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2 alloc_ordered_workqueue null pointer dereference

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function alloc_ordered_workqueue. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-54018. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.2.2 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function alloc_ordered_workqueue. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/msm/hdmi: Add missing check for alloc_ordered_workqueue Add check for the return value of alloc_ordered_workqueue as it may return NULL pointer and cause NULL pointer dereference in `hdmi_hdcp.c` and `hdmi_hpd.c`. Patchwork: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/517211/

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2023-54018 since 12/24/2025. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 280070 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54018), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.14.308, 4.19.276, 5.4.235, 5.10.173, 5.15.99, 6.1.16 or 6.2.3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b479485b24da1d572a0ce875537af31b02d2f915/392f7eb3946ab3780b931af723033e19f82c9134/fc34608fa275fe6b3b17e171b63b8ca3aa1cbf09/1bab31a0969ca4ac90907a5d3b44af104229eafd/9a01ecc312e764ec4527ad49105a3ca799f1860c/e55f93d674314f2fb69eba0dc24acfdf72805611/ae5ca116a0c0ba9fc4123b1f1ec3c4f4d0d01b3f/afe4cb96153a0d8003e4e4ebd91b5c543e10df84 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 Tenable (280070) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2920). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.14.307
• 4.19.275
• 5.4.234
• 5.10.172
• 5.15.0
• 5.15.1
• 5.15.2
• 5.15.3
• 5.15.4
• 5.15.5
• 5.15.6
• 5.15.7
• 5.15.8
• 5.15.9
• 5.15.10
• 5.15.11
• 5.15.12
• 5.15.13
• 5.15.14
• 5.15.15
• 5.15.16
• 5.15.17
• 5.15.18
• 5.15.19
• 5.15.20
• 5.15.21
• 5.15.22
• 5.15.23
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.15.46
• 5.15.47
• 5.15.48
• 5.15.49
• 5.15.50
• 5.15.51
• 5.15.52
• 5.15.53
• 5.15.54
• 5.15.55
• 5.15.56
• 5.15.57
• 5.15.58
• 5.15.59
• 5.15.60
• 5.15.61
• 5.15.62
• 5.15.63
• 5.15.64
• 5.15.65
• 5.15.66
• 5.15.67
• 5.15.68
• 5.15.69
• 5.15.70
• 5.15.71
• 5.15.72
• 5.15.73
• 5.15.74
• 5.15.75
• 5.15.76
• 5.15.77
• 5.15.78
• 5.15.79
• 5.15.80
• 5.15.81
• 5.15.82
• 5.15.83
• 5.15.84
• 5.15.85
• 5.15.86
• 5.15.87
• 5.15.88
• 5.15.89
• 5.15.90
• 5.15.91
• 5.15.92
• 5.15.93
• 5.15.94
• 5.15.95
• 5.15.96
• 5.15.97
• 5.15.98
• 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
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 280070
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54018

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.14.308/4.19.276/5.4.235/5.10.173/5.15.99/6.1.16/6.2.3
Patch: b479485b24da1d572a0ce875537af31b02d2f915/392f7eb3946ab3780b931af723033e19f82c9134/fc34608fa275fe6b3b17e171b63b8ca3aa1cbf09/1bab31a0969ca4ac90907a5d3b44af104229eafd/9a01ecc312e764ec4527ad49105a3ca799f1860c/e55f93d674314f2fb69eba0dc24acfdf72805611/ae5ca116a0c0ba9fc4123b1f1ec3c4f4d0d01b3f/afe4cb96153a0d8003e4e4ebd91b5c543e10df84

Timelineinfo

12/24/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/24/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/24/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
12/26/2025 +2 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-54018 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54018
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338162
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2920 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/24/2025 15:21
Updated: 12/26/2025 20:25
Changes: 12/24/2025 15:21 (58), 12/25/2025 08:57 (7), 12/26/2025 20:25 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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Discussion

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