CVE-2023-53188: net: openvswitch: fix race on port output
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: openvswitch: fix race on port output
assume the following setup on a single machine:
1. An openvswitch instance with one bridge and default flows
2. two network namespaces "server" and "client"
3. two ovs interfaces "server" and "client" on the bridge
4. for each ovs interface a veth pair with a matching name and 32 rx and
tx queues
5. move the ends of the veth pairs to the respective network namespaces
6. assign ip addresses to each of the veth ends in the namespaces (needs
to be the same subnet)
7. start some http server on the server network namespace
8. test if a client in the client namespace can reach the http server
when following the actions below the host has a chance of getting a cpu
stuck in a infinite loop:
1. send a large amount of parallel requests to the http server (around
3000 curls should work)
2. in parallel delete the network namespace (do not delete interfaces or
stop the server, just kill the namespace)
there is a low chance that this will cause the below kernel cpu stuck
message. If this does not happen just retry.
Below there is also the output of bpftrace for the functions mentioned
in the output.
The series of events happening here is:
1. the network namespace is deleted calling
`unregister_netdevice_many_notify` somewhere in the process
2. this sets first `NETREG_UNREGISTERING` on both ends of the veth and
then runs `synchronize_net`
3. it then calls `call_netdevice_notifiers` with `NETDEV_UNREGISTER`
4. this is then handled by `dp_device_event` which calls
`ovs_netdev_detach_dev` (if a vport is found, which is the case for
the veth interface attached to ovs)
5. this removes the rx_handlers of the device but does not prevent
packages to be sent to the device
6. `dp_device_event` then queues the vport deletion to work in
background as a ovs_lock is needed that we do not hold in the
unregistration path
7. `unregister_netdevice_many_notify` continues to call
`netdev_unregister_kobject` which sets `real_num_tx_queues` to 0
8. port deletion continues (but details are not relevant for this issue)
9. at some future point the background task deletes the vport
If after 7. but before 9. a packet is send to the ovs vport (which is
not deleted at this point in time) which forwards it to the
`dev_queue_xmit` flow even though the device is unregistering.
In `skb_tx_hash` (which is called in the `dev_queue_xmit`) path there is
a while loop (if the packet has a rx_queue recorded) that is infinite if
`dev->real_num_tx_queues` is zero.
To prevent this from happening we update `do_output` to handle devices
without carrier the same as if the device is not found (which would
be the code path after 9. is done).
Additionally we now produce a warning in `skb_tx_hash` if we will hit
the infinite loop.
bpftrace (first word is function name):
__dev_queue_xmit server: real_num_tx_queues: 1, cpu: 2, pid: 28024, tid: 28024, skb_addr: 0xffff9edb6f207000, reg_state: 1
netdev_core_pick_tx server: addr: 0xffff9f0a46d4a000 real_num_tx_queues: 1, cpu: 2, pid: 28024, tid: 28024, skb_addr: 0xffff9edb6f207000, reg_state: 1
dp_device_event server: real_num_tx_queues: 1 cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024, event 2, reg_state: 1
synchronize_rcu_expedited: cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024
synchronize_rcu_expedited: cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024
synchronize_rcu_expedited: cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024
synchronize_rcu_expedited: cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024
dp_device_event server: real_num_tx_queues: 1 cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024, event 6, reg_state: 2
ovs_netdev_detach_dev server: real_num_tx_queues: 1 cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024, reg_state: 2
netdev_rx_handler_unregister server: real_num_tx_queues: 1, cpu: 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024, reg_state: 2
synchronize_rcu_expedited: cpu 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024
netdev_rx_handler_unregister ret server: real_num_tx_queues: 1, cpu: 9, pid: 21024, tid: 21024, reg_state: 2
dp_
---truncated---
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel flaw can make a CPU spin indefinitely during a race in Open vSwitch port output handling. The described trigger combines heavy traffic with deletion of a network namespace attached through veth and Open vSwitch. The known impact is denial of service on affected Linux systems, not data theft or privilege escalation based on the provided sources.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted availability risk for Linux network virtualization hosts, especially where Open vSwitch is part of production traffic handling. Prioritize normal kernel maintenance for exposed systems; escalate if affected hosts support critical network or container workloads.
Technical view
Open vSwitch can forward to a vport while its backing netdevice is unregistering. After unregistration sets real_num_tx_queues to zero, skb_tx_hash can enter an infinite loop if a packet still reaches dev_queue_xmit. The fix changes do_output handling for devices without carrier and adds a warning path in skb_tx_hash.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux hosts using Open vSwitch with veth interfaces and network namespaces. The source lists Linux kernel as affected, with affected version data including 4.3, 5.4.293, 5.10.237, 5.15.181, 6.1.25, 6.2.12, and 6.3.
Exploitation context
The bundle reports no CISA KEV listing and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The described trigger requires a specific local Open vSwitch, veth, and namespace setup, high parallel traffic, and namespace deletion. The source says the race has a low chance and may require retries.
Researcher notes
The source describes a race between netdevice unregistration, delayed vport deletion, and packet output. Evidence supports denial of service through CPU infinite loop. It does not establish remote exploitability, privilege requirements, CVSS, CWE, or exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation direction
Apply Linux stable kernel updates containing the referenced Open vSwitch fixes.
Check your distribution vendor advisory for the exact fixed kernel package.
Prioritize hosts running Open vSwitch with veth-backed network namespaces.
Confirm patched code handles no-carrier devices in Open vSwitch do_output.
Monitor kernel logs for CPU stuck or skb_tx_hash warnings.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux hosts using Open vSwitch, veth interfaces, and network namespaces.
Compare running kernel builds against vendor-fixed packages or referenced stable commits.
Review kernel logs for CPU stuck messages during namespace teardown.
Verify no critical workload depends on an unpatched affected kernel branch.
Track CVE status because severity and CVSS were not provided.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
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Sep 15, 2025, 14:04 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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