VDB-338993 · CVE-2023-54268 · Nessus 281511

Linux Kernel up to 6.3.4 debugobjects fill_pool allocation of resources

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5.3	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.243/5.10.180/5.15.113/6.1.30/6.3.4. The affected element is the function fill_pool of the component debugobjects. The manipulation leads to allocation of resources. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2023-54268. There is no available exploit. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.4.243/5.10.180/5.15.113/6.1.30/6.3.4. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function fill_pool of the component debugobjects. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: debugobjects: Don't wake up kswapd from fill_pool() syzbot is reporting a lockdep warning in fill_pool() because the allocation from debugobjects is using GFP_ATOMIC, which is (__GFP_HIGH | __GFP_KSWAPD_RECLAIM) and therefore tries to wake up kswapd, which acquires kswapd_wait::lock. Since fill_pool() might be called with arbitrary locks held, fill_pool() should not assume that acquiring kswapd_wait::lock is safe. Use __GFP_HIGH instead and remove __GFP_NORETRY as it is pointless for !__GFP_DIRECT_RECLAIM allocation.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-54268 since 12/30/2025. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281511 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54268), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.4.244, 5.10.181, 5.15.114, 6.1.31 or 6.3.5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch be646802b3dc408c4dc72a3ac32c3f4a0282414d/fd673079749bac97bb30f1461df079e6c8e86511/aee97eec77029270866c704f66cdf2881cbd2fe1/d7fff52c99d52f180d8bef95d8ed8fec6343889c/4c088d30a72d9b8f9c6ae9362222942e4075cb00/eb799279fb1f9c63c520fe8c1c41cb9154252db6 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 (281511) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

Debian Linux
Amazon Linux 2
IBM Power Hardware Management Console
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu Linux
SUSE Linux
Oracle Linux
Open Source Linux Kernel
RESF Rocky Linux
IBM DataPower Gateway

Productinfo

Type

Operating System

Vendor

Linux

Name

Kernel

Version

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: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Allocation of resources
CWE: CWE-770 / CWE-400 / 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
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Nessus ID: 281511
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54268

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

12/30/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/30/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/30/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/27/2026 +118 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-54268 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54268
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338993
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2941 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 12/30/2025 16:57
Updated: 04/27/2026 07:17
Changes: 12/30/2025 16:57 (59), 12/31/2025 21:33 (2), 01/01/2026 14:59 (7), 04/27/2026 07:17 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.