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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53382: net/smc: Reset connection when trying to use SMCRv2 fails.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/smc: Reset connection when trying to use SMCRv2 fails. We found a crash when using SMCRv2 with 2 Mellanox ConnectX-4. It can be reproduced by: - smc_run nginx - smc_run wrk -t 32 -c 500 -d 30 http://<ip>:<port> BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000014 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 8000000108713067 P4D 8000000108713067 PUD 151127067 PMD 0 Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP PTI CPU: 4 PID: 2441 Comm: kworker/4:249 Kdump: loaded Tainted: G W E 6.4.0-rc1+ #42 Workqueue: smc_hs_wq smc_listen_work [smc] RIP: 0010:smc_clc_send_confirm_accept+0x284/0x580 [smc] RSP: 0018:ffffb8294b2d7c78 EFLAGS: 00010a06 RAX: ffff8f1873238880 RBX: ffffb8294b2d7dc8 RCX: 0000000000000000 RDX: 00000000000000b4 RSI: 0000000000000001 RDI: 0000000000b40c00 RBP: ffffb8294b2d7db8 R08: ffff8f1815c5860c R09: 0000000000000000 R10: 0000000000000400 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: ffff8f1846f56180 R13: ffff8f1815c5860c R14: 0000000000000001 R15: 0000000000000001 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8f1aefd00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000014 CR3: 00000001027a0001 CR4: 00000000003706e0 DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400 Call Trace: <TASK> ? mlx5_ib_map_mr_sg+0xa1/0xd0 [mlx5_ib] ? smcr_buf_map_link+0x24b/0x290 [smc] ? __smc_buf_create+0x4ee/0x9b0 [smc] smc_clc_send_accept+0x4c/0xb0 [smc] smc_listen_work+0x346/0x650 [smc] ? __schedule+0x279/0x820 process_one_work+0x1e5/0x3f0 worker_thread+0x4d/0x2f0 ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 kthread+0xe5/0x120 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x2c/0x50 </TASK> During the CLC handshake, server sequentially tries available SMCRv2 and SMCRv1 devices in smc_listen_work(). If an SMCRv2 device is found. SMCv2 based link group and link will be assigned to the connection. Then assumed that some buffer assignment errors happen later in the CLC handshake, such as RMB registration failure, server will give up SMCRv2 and try SMCRv1 device instead. But the resources assigned to the connection won't be reset. When server tries SMCRv1 device, the connection creation process will be executed again. Since conn->lnk has been assigned when trying SMCRv2, it will not be set to the correct SMCRv1 link in smcr_lgr_conn_assign_link(). So in such situation, conn->lgr points to correct SMCRv1 link group but conn->lnk points to the SMCRv2 link mistakenly. Then in smc_clc_send_confirm_accept(), conn->rmb_desc->mr[link->link_idx] will be accessed. Since the link->link_idx is not correct, the related MR may not have been initialized, so crash happens. | Try SMCRv2 device first | |-> conn->lgr: assign existed SMCRv2 link group; | |-> conn->link: assign existed SMCRv2 link (link_idx may be 1 in SMC_LGR_SYMMETRIC); | |-> sndbuf & RMB creation fails, quit; | | Try SMCRv1 device then | |-> conn->lgr: create SMCRv1 link group and assign; | |-> conn->link: keep SMCRv2 link mistakenly; | |-> sndbuf & RMB creation succeed, only RMB->mr[link_idx = 0] | initialized. | | Then smc_clc_send_confirm_accept() accesses | conn->rmb_desc->mr[conn->link->link_idx, which is 1], then crash. v This patch tries to fix this by cleaning conn->lnk before assigning link. In addition, it is better to reset the connection and clean the resources assigned if trying SMCRv2 failed in buffer creation or registration.

MediumCVSS 5.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2023-53382 is a Linux kernel crash bug in SMC over RDMA connection setup. Under specific SMC-Rv2 failure handling, the kernel can dereference a null or wrong pointer and crash. The documented impact is denial of service, not data theft or code execution.

Executive priority

Treat as a reliability and availability issue for Linux systems using SMC/RDMA. Patch during the next maintenance window, sooner for production systems where kernel crashes would disrupt critical services.

Technical view

During SMC CLC handshake, a failed SMCRv2 attempt may leave conn->lnk assigned while retrying SMCRv1. Later smc_clc_send_confirm_accept() accesses conn->rmb_desc->mr using the stale link index, causing a kernel NULL pointer dereference. CVSS is 5.5, AV:L/PR:L/UI:N, availability high.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Linux systems using the kernel SMC module with SMC-R/RDMA. The report reproduces the crash with SMCRv2 and two Mellanox ConnectX-4 devices. Systems not using SMC/RDMA are less likely to be practically exposed, based on available sources.

Exploitation context

The CVE record rates attack vector as local with low privileges and no user interaction. CISA KEV status is false in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The public description includes a workload reproduction, but this assessment does not provide exploit steps.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the Linux kernel CVE text and stable commit references. The issue is CWE-476 and appears fixed by resetting connection/link state when SMCRv2 setup fails. The affected-version data in the bundle is sparse and should be reconciled against distribution advisories.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux stable or vendor kernel updates containing the referenced fixes.
  • Prioritize hosts using SMC-R, RDMA, or Mellanox ConnectX-4 hardware.
  • If patching is delayed, check vendor guidance for supported configuration workarounds.
  • Monitor kernel crash logs for SMC-related NULL pointer dereferences.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and vendor advisories for CVE-2023-53382 coverage.
  • Confirm whether the SMC kernel module and RDMA hardware are in use.
  • Verify deployed kernels include one of the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Review logs for crashes referencing smc_clc_send_confirm_accept or smc_listen_work.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-476: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2023-53382 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
4Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.83.6CISA-ADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53382Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
cvssV3_1other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxe49300a6bf6218c835403545e9356141a6340181, e49300a6bf6218c835403545e9356141a6340181, e49300a6bf6218c835403545e9356141a6340181unaffected
LinuxLinux5.16, 0, 6.1.31, 6.3.5, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-476

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-476 · source CWE mapping

NULL Pointer Dereference

NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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