Linux Kernel up to 6.1.46/6.4.11 vdpa vdpa_nl_policy privilege escalation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as problematic has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.46/6.4.11. The affected element is the function vdpa_nl_policy of the component vdpa. Performing a manipulation results in an unknown weakness. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54031. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.46/6.4.11. This affects the function vdpa_nl_policy of the component vdpa. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vdpa: Add queue index attr to vdpa_nl_policy for nlattr length check The vdpa_nl_policy structure is used to validate the nlattr when parsing the incoming nlmsg. It will ensure the attribute being described produces a valid nlattr pointer in info->attrs before entering into each handler in vdpa_nl_ops. That is to say, the missing part in vdpa_nl_policy may lead to illegal nlattr after parsing, which could lead to OOB read just like CVE-2023-3773. This patch adds the missing nla_policy for vdpa queue index attr to avoid such bugs.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2023-54031 since 12/24/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 279934 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54031), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.47 or 6.4.12 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8ad9bc25cbdcec72e7ca43dd8281decb69ea9a70/ccb533b7070aeeb65c66ea5d590e9c62421dcd61/b3003e1b54e057f5f3124e437b80c3bef26ed3fe 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 (279934) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2920). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality 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
• 6.4.0
• 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
• 6.4.10
• 6.4.11

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

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

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