CVE-2023-54038

Service interruption via Bluetooth NULL pointer dereference

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.3.8 through 6.4.6 allows attackers to interrupt service through Bluetooth connections. hci_connect_sco and hci_connect_cis return NULL when no link exists, although their callers expect an error pointer; the NULL hcon then reaches sco_conn_add, which dereferences hcon->hdev. Reachability requires the SCO or ISO connection path to encounter a missing link, and triggering the defect can interrupt kernel operation.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.3.8 through 6.4.6 allows attackers to interrupt service through Bluetooth connections. hci_connect_sco and hci_connect_cis return NULL when no link exists, although their callers expect an error pointer; the NULL hcon then reaches sco_conn_add, which dereferences hcon->hdev. Reachability requires the SCO or ISO connection path to encounter a missing link, and triggering the defect can interrupt kernel operation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54038
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=06149746e7203d5ffe2d6faf9799ee36203aa8b8 <357ab53c83a5322437fa434e9a9e3e0bafe6b383
  2. Affected versionversion=06149746e7203d5ffe2d6faf9799ee36203aa8b8 <b4066eb04bb67e7ff66e5aaab0db4a753f37eaad
  3. Affected versionversion=6.4
  4. Affected versionversion=f72fc94a17d45be98aecfd59c39b5b24a6a342e2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=06149746e7203d5ffe2d6faf9799ee36203aa8b8 <357ab53c83a5322437fa434e9a9e3e0bafe6b383; version=06149746e7203d5ffe2d6faf9799ee36203aa8b8 <b4066eb04bb67e7ff66e5aaab0db4a753f37eaad; version=6.4; version=f72fc94a17d45be98aecfd59c39b5b24a6a342e2

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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