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CVE Record

CVE-2023-52435: net: prevent mss overflow in skb_segment()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: prevent mss overflow in skb_segment() Once again syzbot is able to crash the kernel in skb_segment() [1] GSO_BY_FRAGS is a forbidden value, but unfortunately the following computation in skb_segment() can reach it quite easily : mss = mss * partial_segs; 65535 = 3 * 5 * 17 * 257, so many initial values of mss can lead to a bad final result. Make sure to limit segmentation so that the new mss value is smaller than GSO_BY_FRAGS. [1] general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc000000000e: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000070-0x0000000000000077] CPU: 1 PID: 5079 Comm: syz-executor993 Not tainted 6.7.0-rc4-syzkaller-00141-g1ae4cd3cbdd0 #0 Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 11/10/2023 RIP: 0010:skb_segment+0x181d/0x3f30 net/core/skbuff.c:4551 Code: 83 e3 02 e9 fb ed ff ff e8 90 68 1c f9 48 8b 84 24 f8 00 00 00 48 8d 78 70 48 b8 00 00 00 00 00 fc ff df 48 89 fa 48 c1 ea 03 <0f> b6 04 02 84 c0 74 08 3c 03 0f 8e 8a 21 00 00 48 8b 84 24 f8 00 RSP: 0018:ffffc900043473d0 EFLAGS: 00010202 RAX: dffffc0000000000 RBX: 0000000000010046 RCX: ffffffff886b1597 RDX: 000000000000000e RSI: ffffffff886b2520 RDI: 0000000000000070 RBP: ffffc90004347578 R08: 0000000000000005 R09: 000000000000ffff R10: 000000000000ffff R11: 0000000000000002 R12: ffff888063202ac0 R13: 0000000000010000 R14: 000000000000ffff R15: 0000000000000046 FS: 0000555556e7e380(0000) GS:ffff8880b9900000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000020010000 CR3: 0000000027ee2000 CR4: 00000000003506f0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> udp6_ufo_fragment+0xa0e/0xd00 net/ipv6/udp_offload.c:109 ipv6_gso_segment+0x534/0x17e0 net/ipv6/ip6_offload.c:120 skb_mac_gso_segment+0x290/0x610 net/core/gso.c:53 __skb_gso_segment+0x339/0x710 net/core/gso.c:124 skb_gso_segment include/net/gso.h:83 [inline] validate_xmit_skb+0x36c/0xeb0 net/core/dev.c:3626 __dev_queue_xmit+0x6f3/0x3d60 net/core/dev.c:4338 dev_queue_xmit include/linux/netdevice.h:3134 [inline] packet_xmit+0x257/0x380 net/packet/af_packet.c:276 packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3087 [inline] packet_sendmsg+0x24c6/0x5220 net/packet/af_packet.c:3119 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline] __sock_sendmsg+0xd5/0x180 net/socket.c:745 __sys_sendto+0x255/0x340 net/socket.c:2190 __do_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2202 [inline] __se_sys_sendto net/socket.c:2198 [inline] __x64_sys_sendto+0xe0/0x1b0 net/socket.c:2198 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x40/0x110 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0x6b RIP: 0033:0x7f8692032aa9 Code: 28 00 00 00 75 05 48 83 c4 28 c3 e8 d1 19 00 00 90 48 89 f8 48 89 f7 48 89 d6 48 89 ca 4d 89 c2 4d 89 c8 4c 8b 4c 24 08 0f 05 <48> 3d 01 f0 ff ff 73 01 c3 48 c7 c1 b8 ff ff ff f7 d8 64 89 01 48 RSP: 002b:00007fff8d685418 EFLAGS: 00000246 ORIG_RAX: 000000000000002c RAX: ffffffffffffffda RBX: 0000000000000003 RCX: 00007f8692032aa9 RDX: 0000000000010048 RSI: 00000000200000c0 RDI: 0000000000000003 RBP: 00000000000f4240 R08: 0000000020000540 R09: 0000000000000014 R10: 0000000000000000 R11: 0000000000000246 R12: 00007fff8d685480 R13: 0000000000000001 R14: 00007fff8d685480 R15: 0000000000000003 </TASK> Modules linked in: ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- RIP: 0010:skb_segment+0x181d/0x3f30 net/core/skbuff.c:4551 Code: 83 e3 02 e9 fb ed ff ff e8 90 68 1c f9 48 8b 84 24 f8 00 00 00 48 8d 78 70 48 b8 00 00 00 00 00 fc ff df 48 89 fa 48 c1 ea 03 <0f> b6 04 02 84 c0 74 08 3c 03 0f 8e 8a 21 00 00 48 8b 84 24 f8 00 RSP: 0018:ffffc900043473d0 EFLAGS: 00010202 RAX: dffffc0000000000 RBX: 0000000000010046 RCX: ffffffff886b1597 RDX: 000000000000000e RSI: ffffffff886b2520 RDI: 0000000000000070 RBP: ffffc90004347578 R0 ---truncated---

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-52435 is a Linux kernel networking flaw that can crash the kernel during packet segmentation. For executives, the main business risk is service disruption on systems running affected kernels, not confirmed data theft or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a timely kernel maintenance item for availability-sensitive Linux fleets. Escalate priority for shared systems, multi-user servers, and platforms running untrusted workloads.

Technical view

The issue is an MSS overflow in skb_segment(). A computed MSS can reach the forbidden GSO_BY_FRAGS value, leading to a general protection fault in kernel networking paths involving UDP6 UFO, IPv6 GSO, AF_PACKET sendmsg, and transmit validation.

Likely exposure

Exposure is Linux systems running affected kernel versions listed in the CVE source bundle. The trace shows local packet send paths, so practical exposure depends on whether users or workloads can reach those kernel networking interfaces.

Exploitation context

The evidence shows a syzbot-triggered kernel crash. The source bundle does not report CISA KEV listing, active exploitation, public weaponization, privilege escalation, or remote exploitation.

Researcher notes

The source is specific about the faulty arithmetic and crash path, but incomplete on exploit prerequisites and security impact beyond denial of service. Avoid assuming remote reachability or privilege impact without vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the relevant Linux stable kernel update containing the referenced skb_segment() fix.
  • Check distribution advisories, including Debian LTS, for packaged kernel updates.
  • Prioritize hosts where untrusted users or workloads can access kernel networking paths.
  • Avoid direct deploy assumptions; follow vendor kernel guidance for your platform.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts.
  • Compare versions against the CVE affected list and vendor fixed packages.
  • Confirm installed kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes.
  • Review crash logs for skb_segment(), udp6_ufo_fragment(), or IPv6 GSO traces.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2023-52435 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1ba, 3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1ba, 3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1ba, 3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1ba, 3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1ba, 3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1ba, 3953c46c3ac7eef31a9935427371c6f54a22f1baunaffected
LinuxLinux4.8, 0, 4.19.321, 5.4.269, 5.10.210, 5.15.149, 6.1.79, 6.6.11, 6.7affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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