Linux Kernel up to 6.4.3 num_vfs null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

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 rated as critical. This affects the function num_vfs. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2023-54315. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.10.187/5.15.120/6.1.38/6.3.12/6.4.3 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function num_vfs. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc/powernv/sriov: perform null check on iov before dereferencing iov Currently pointer iov is being dereferenced before the null check of iov which can lead to null pointer dereference errors. Fix this by moving the iov null check before the dereferencing. Detected using cppcheck static analysis: linux/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/pci-sriov.c:597:12: warning: Either the condition '!iov' is redundant or there is possible null pointer dereference: iov. [nullPointerRedundantCheck] num_vfs = iov->num_vfs; ^

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-54315 since 12/30/2025. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

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 07c19c0ad4b07f4b598da369714de028f6a6a323/d3a0d96c16e5f8d55e2c70163abda3c7c8328106/d9a1aaea856002cb58dfb7c8d8770400fa1a0299/6314465b88072a6b6f3b3c12a7898abe09095f95/72990144e17e5e2cb378f1d9b10530b85b9bc382/f4f913c980bc6abe0ccfe88fe3909c125afe4a2d 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 vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). 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

• 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

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CPE 2.2info

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Exploitinginfo

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Entryinfo

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

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