CVE-2023-54040

Guest-to-host compromise via FDIR cleanup failure

Published Dec 24, 2025 · Updated Dec 24, 2025

Memory corruption in Linux kernel 5.13 through 6.2.10 allows guest OS users controlling an SR-IOV VF to compromise the host. In ice_virtchnl_fdir.c, failed IRQ-context setup leaves an inserted FDIR entry stale, while failed filter writes retain handler context, enabling use-after-free and double-free operations. Exploitation requires control of an assigned Intel Ethernet SR-IOV VF; crafted mailbox requests can disclose or corrupt host kernel memory and panic the host.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Linux kernel 5.13 through 6.2.10 allows guest OS users controlling an SR-IOV VF to compromise the host. In ice_virtchnl_fdir.c, failed IRQ-context setup leaves an inserted FDIR entry stale, while failed filter writes retain handler context, enabling use-after-free and double-free operations. Exploitation requires control of an assigned Intel Ethernet SR-IOV VF; crafted mailbox requests can disclose or corrupt host kernel memory and panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54040
Published
Dec 24, 2025
Updated
Dec 24, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <391d28c0e38c0e5b11a4240a2b4976cf63e87f45
  2. Affected versionversion=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <aad3b871efe26f36f45f8b4649653b5d3fd9c35e
  3. Affected versionversion=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <b4a01ace20f5c93c724abffc0a83ec84f514b98d
  4. Affected versionversion=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <cbfed5f114b5310f221979fc8190f55c6abc3400
  5. Affected versionversion=5.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <391d28c0e38c0e5b11a4240a2b4976cf63e87f45; version=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <aad3b871efe26f36f45f8b4649653b5d3fd9c35e; version=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <b4a01ace20f5c93c724abffc0a83ec84f514b98d; version=1f7ea1cd6a3748427512ccc9582e18cd9efea966 <cbfed5f114b5310f221979fc8190f55c6abc3400; version=5.13

Published CVSS scores

8.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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