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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53654: octeontx2-af: Add validation before accessing cgx and lmac

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: octeontx2-af: Add validation before accessing cgx and lmac with the addition of new MAC blocks like CN10K RPM and CN10KB RPM_USX, LMACs are noncontiguous and CGX blocks are also noncontiguous. But during RVU driver initialization, the driver is assuming they are contiguous and trying to access cgx or lmac with their id which is resulting in kernel panic. This patch fixes the issue by adding proper checks. [ 23.219150] pc : cgx_lmac_read+0x38/0x70 [ 23.219154] lr : rvu_program_channels+0x3f0/0x498 [ 23.223852] sp : ffff000100d6fc80 [ 23.227158] x29: ffff000100d6fc80 x28: ffff00010009f880 x27: 000000000000005a [ 23.234288] x26: ffff000102586768 x25: 0000000000002500 x24: fffffffffff0f000

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel driver bug that can crash the kernel during initialization on systems using octeontx2-af networking hardware paths. The issue comes from assuming CGX and LMAC identifiers are contiguous when newer MAC blocks can be noncontiguous. The available sources do not provide CVSS, public exploitation evidence, or downstream distro status.

Executive priority

Prioritize for platforms that depend on affected Linux networking hardware, because the documented failure mode is kernel panic. For general fleets without this driver path, urgency is lower until vendor advisories show broader exposure.

Technical view

In octeontx2-af, RVU driver initialization can access CGX or LMAC entries by ID without validating that the target exists. With CN10K RPM and CN10KB RPM_USX layouts, blocks may be noncontiguous, causing invalid access and kernel panic. Stable kernel commits add validation before CGX and LMAC access.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using the affected octeontx2-af RVU driver path with newer noncontiguous MAC block layouts. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions and stable commits, but does not identify affected distributions, cloud images, or appliance products.

Exploitation context

The provided sources describe a kernel panic during driver initialization, not a remote attack path. KEV is false, and no cited source states active exploitation or public exploit availability. Treat this as an availability risk for matching hardware and kernel combinations.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow and kernel-specific. The root issue is missing validation around noncontiguous CGX and LMAC identifiers during RVU initialization. No CVSS, CWE, exploit status, or distro mapping is included in the supplied bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor or distribution advisories for fixed kernel packages.
  • Prioritize kernel updates on systems using octeontx2-af hardware paths.
  • Review the listed stable kernel commits for patch inclusion.
  • Avoid assuming generic Linux exposure without matching driver and hardware evidence.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems loading the octeontx2-af driver.
  • Confirm kernel versions against vendor fixed-package guidance.
  • Check boot logs for RVU initialization panics or CGX/LMAC access failures.
  • Verify whether relevant stable commits are present in deployed kernels.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

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CVE-2023-53654 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
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux91c6945ea1f9059fea886630d0fd8070740e2aaf, 91c6945ea1f9059fea886630d0fd8070740e2aaf, 91c6945ea1f9059fea886630d0fd8070740e2aaf, 91c6945ea1f9059fea886630d0fd8070740e2aafunaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 5.15.121, 6.1.39, 6.4.4, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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