NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel - CVE-2023-53240
Published: September 16, 2025 / Updated: September 22, 2025
Vulnerability identifier: #VU115424
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 6.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2023-53240
CWE-ID: CWE-476
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a local user to perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.
The vulnerability exists due to NULL pointer dereference within the xsk_build_skb(), xsk_generic_xmit(), xsk_no_wakeup(), __xsk_sendmsg(), __xsk_recvmsg() and xsk_poll() functions in net/xdp/xsk.c. A local user can perform a denial of service (DoS) attack.
Affected software
Linux kernel
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - AUS
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server for Power LE - Update Services for SAP Solutions
kernel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt (Red Hat package)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server - AUS
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server for Power LE - Update Services for SAP Solutions
kernel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt (Red Hat package)
How to mitigate CVE-2023-53240
Install update from vendor's repository.
Linux kernel - update to 6.2.3
kernel (Red Hat package) - update to 5.14.0-284.154.1.el9_2
kernel-rt (Red Hat package) - update to 5.14.0-284.154.1.rt14.439.el9_2
kernel (Red Hat package) - update to 5.14.0-284.154.1.el9_2
kernel-rt (Red Hat package) - update to 5.14.0-284.154.1.rt14.439.el9_2