Linux Kernel up to 6.4.3 efx_net_stats null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
4.6	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.187/5.15.120/6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. Impacted is the function efx_net_stats. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2023-54156. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.187/5.15.120/6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function efx_net_stats. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sfc: fix crash when reading stats while NIC is resetting efx_net_stats() (.ndo_get_stats64) can be called during an ethtool selftest, during which time nic_data->mc_stats is NULL as the NIC has been fini'd. In this case do not attempt to fetch the latest stats from the hardware, else we will crash on a NULL dereference: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000038 RIP efx_nic_update_stats abridged calltrace: efx_ef10_update_stats_pf efx_net_stats dev_get_stats dev_seq_printf_stats Skipping the read is safe, we will simply give out stale stats. To ensure that the free in efx_ef10_fini_nic() does not race against efx_ef10_update_stats_pf(), which could cause a TOCTTOU bug, take the efx->stats_lock in fini_nic (it is already held across update_stats).

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54156 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 279892 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54156), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch cb1aa7cc562cab6a87ea33574c8c65f2d2fd7aeb/91f4ef204e731565afdc6c2a7fcf509a3fd6fd67/446f5567934331923d0aec4ce045e4ecb0174aae/470152d76b3ed107d172ea46acc4bfa941f20b4b/aba32b4c58112960c0c708703ca6b44dc8944082/d1b355438b8325a486f087e506d412c4e852f37b 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 (279892) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2929). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.187
• 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
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1
• 6.3.2
• 6.3.3
• 6.3.4
• 6.3.5
• 6.3.6
• 6.3.7
• 6.3.8
• 6.3.9
• 6.3.10
• 6.3.11
• 6.3.12
• 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

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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: 279892
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54156

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.188/5.15.121/6.1.39/6.3.13/6.4.4
Patch: cb1aa7cc562cab6a87ea33574c8c65f2d2fd7aeb/91f4ef204e731565afdc6c2a7fcf509a3fd6fd67/446f5567934331923d0aec4ce045e4ecb0174aae/470152d76b3ed107d172ea46acc4bfa941f20b4b/aba32b4c58112960c0c708703ca6b44dc8944082/d1b355438b8325a486f087e506d412c4e852f37b

Timelineinfo

12/24/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/24/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/24/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/03/2026 +10 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-54156 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54156
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338200
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2929 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 12/24/2025 15:28
Updated: 01/03/2026 08:56
Changes: 12/24/2025 15:28 (58), 12/26/2025 18:27 (2), 01/03/2026 08:56 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion

Do you want to use VulDB in your project?

Use the official API to access entries easily!