Linux Kernel up to 6.4.3 ram kstrdup 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.
5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.4.3. This affects the function kstrdup of the component ram. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2023-54189. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.4.3 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function kstrdup of the component ram. 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: pstore/ram: Add check for kstrdup Add check for the return value of kstrdup() and return the error if it fails in order to avoid NULL pointer dereference.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54189 since 12/30/2025. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281555 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54189), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.251, 5.10.188, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.3.13 or 6.4.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8430a8e8e85420d4cb51dcb08b0278ab194ea82f/a14cb307267ba7a1715403e071bdc4deda77eef5/38a9d7dac3ad25323145b4aaea3b5f434f50011d/f57ba91a46d3fc52bfdac9cca5cf5572ec7afd6d/2a764a2facd9dd88a69777200f65dfd0182765dc/065c81ae5817b245bb9feb6d54e027702740b49a/d97038d5ec2062733c1e016caf9baaf68cf64ea1 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 Tenable (281555). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.4.250
• 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: 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: 281555
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54189

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.4.251/5.10.188/5.15.121/6.1.39/6.3.13/6.4.4
Patch: 8430a8e8e85420d4cb51dcb08b0278ab194ea82f/a14cb307267ba7a1715403e071bdc4deda77eef5/38a9d7dac3ad25323145b4aaea3b5f434f50011d/f57ba91a46d3fc52bfdac9cca5cf5572ec7afd6d/2a764a2facd9dd88a69777200f65dfd0182765dc/065c81ae5817b245bb9feb6d54e027702740b49a/d97038d5ec2062733c1e016caf9baaf68cf64ea1

Timelineinfo

12/30/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/30/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/30/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
01/01/2026 +2 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-54189 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54189
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338962

Entryinfo

Created: 12/30/2025 16:44
Updated: 01/01/2026 05:17
Changes: 12/30/2025 16:44 (59), 01/01/2026 05:17 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion

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