Remote denial of service via leaked blk-mq tags
Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025
Resource leakage in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to exhaust kernel memory through NVMe-oF queue-count changes. blk_mq_realloc_tag_set_tags retains tag arrays above the reduced nr_hw_queues value, while later teardown frees only arrays within the new count. A hostile or compromised NVMe-oF target, or an on-path attacker on an unauthenticated NVMe/TCP fabric, can repeat queue shrink-and-grow cycles until memory exhaustion interrupts the host.
Summary
What happened
Resource leakage in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to exhaust kernel memory through NVMe-oF queue-count changes. blk_mq_realloc_tag_set_tags retains tag arrays above the reduced nr_hw_queues value, while later teardown frees only arrays within the new count. A hostile or compromised NVMe-oF target, or an on-path attacker on an unauthenticated NVMe/TCP fabric, can repeat queue shrink-and-grow cycles until memory exhaustion interrupts the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-54227
- Published
- Dec 30, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 30, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c0ef7493e68b8896806a2f598fcffbaa97333405
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e1dd7bc93029024af5688253b0c05181d6e01f8e
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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