CVE-2023-54237Network attack vector

Kernel panic via unprotected SMC link addition

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

Race condition in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to crash SMC-R servers by racing link-group changes during connection setup. smc_llc_srv_add_link() adds a second link without holding llc_conf_mutex, allowing concurrent link initialization and teardown to leave RDMA protection-domain state freed or zeroed. Any remote peer able to complete unauthenticated SMC negotiation can reach the race; the corrupted link state can trigger a kernel panic.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to crash SMC-R servers by racing link-group changes during connection setup. smc_llc_srv_add_link() adds a second link without holding llc_conf_mutex, allowing concurrent link initialization and teardown to leave RDMA protection-domain state freed or zeroed. Any remote peer able to complete unauthenticated SMC negotiation can reach the race; the corrupted link state can trigger a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54237
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

  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=2d2209f2018943d4152a21eff5b76f1952e0b435 <0c764cc271d3aa6528ae1b3394babf34ac01f775
  2. Affected versionversion=2d2209f2018943d4152a21eff5b76f1952e0b435 <e40b801b3603a8f90b46acbacdea3505c27f01c0
  3. Affected versionversion=2d2209f2018943d4152a21eff5b76f1952e0b435 <f2f46de98c11d41ac8d22765f47ba54ce5480a5b
  4. Affected versionversion=5.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2d2209f2018943d4152a21eff5b76f1952e0b435 <0c764cc271d3aa6528ae1b3394babf34ac01f775; version=2d2209f2018943d4152a21eff5b76f1952e0b435 <e40b801b3603a8f90b46acbacdea3505c27f01c0; version=2d2209f2018943d4152a21eff5b76f1952e0b435 <f2f46de98c11d41ac8d22765f47ba54ce5480a5b; version=5.8

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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