Linux Kernel up to 6.1.54/6.5.4 scsi target_alloc_cmd_counter allocation of resources

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.54/6.5.4. This affects the function target_alloc_cmd_counter of the component scsi. Executing a manipulation can lead to allocation of resources. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-54154. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.54/6.5.4. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function target_alloc_cmd_counter of the component scsi. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: target: core: Fix target_cmd_counter leak The target_cmd_counter struct allocated via target_alloc_cmd_counter() is never freed, resulting in leaks across various transport types, e.g.: unreferenced object 0xffff88801f920120 (size 96): comm "sh", pid 102, jiffies 4294892535 (age 713.412s) hex dump (first 32 bytes): 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 38 01 92 1f 80 88 ff ff ........8....... backtrace: [<00000000e58a6252>] kmalloc_trace+0x11/0x20 [<0000000043af4b2f>] target_alloc_cmd_counter+0x17/0x90 [target_core_mod] [<000000007da2dfa7>] target_setup_session+0x2d/0x140 [target_core_mod] [<0000000068feef86>] tcm_loop_tpg_nexus_store+0x19b/0x350 [tcm_loop] [<000000006a80e021>] configfs_write_iter+0xb1/0x120 [<00000000e9f4d860>] vfs_write+0x2e4/0x3c0 [<000000008143433b>] ksys_write+0x80/0xb0 [<00000000a7df29b2>] do_syscall_64+0x42/0x90 [<0000000053f45fb8>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8 Free the structure alongside the corresponding iscsit_conn / se_sess parent.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54154 since 12/24/2025. The exploitation appears to be difficult. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279807 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54154), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.55 or 6.5.5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1cd41d1669bcbc5052afa897f85608a62ff3fb30/f84639c5ac5f4f95b3992da1af4ff382ebf2e819/d14e3e553e05cb763964c991fe6acb0a6a1c6f9c 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 (279807) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2929). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.1.45
• 6.1.46
• 6.1.47
• 6.1.48
• 6.1.49
• 6.1.50
• 6.1.51
• 6.1.52
• 6.1.53
• 6.1.54
• 6.5.0
• 6.5.1
• 6.5.2
• 6.5.3
• 6.5.4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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