CVE-2023-54174

Kernel crash via incorrect iommufd reference release

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel 6.2 through 6.2.2 allows local users with VFIO group access to crash the kernel via an ioctl. In vfio_group_ioctl_set_container(), the failure path after iommufd_vfio_compat_ioas_id() calls iommufd_ctx_put() on uninitialized group->iommufd instead of the validated local iommufd pointer. Reaching the path requires access to a VFIO group device and a failing IOMMUFD compatibility setup; dereferencing the null group field interrupts the host kernel.

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 6.2 through 6.2.2 allows local users with VFIO group access to crash the kernel via an ioctl. In vfio_group_ioctl_set_container(), the failure path after iommufd_vfio_compat_ioas_id() calls iommufd_ctx_put() on uninitialized group->iommufd instead of the validated local iommufd pointer. Reaching the path requires access to a VFIO group device and a failing IOMMUFD compatibility setup; dereferencing the null group field interrupts the host kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54174
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 30, 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=6.2
  2. Affected versionversion=9eefba8002c27d65ab52a533fd0611b099b73591 <8f24eef598ce7cce0bbefe0ec642bcc031d0f528
  3. Affected versionversion=9eefba8002c27d65ab52a533fd0611b099b73591 <d649c34cb916b015fdcb487e51409fcc5caeca8d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.2; version=9eefba8002c27d65ab52a533fd0611b099b73591 <8f24eef598ce7cce0bbefe0ec642bcc031d0f528; version=9eefba8002c27d65ab52a533fd0611b099b73591 <d649c34cb916b015fdcb487e51409fcc5caeca8d

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)
Vectorlocal
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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