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CVE Record

CVE-2023-54164: Bluetooth: ISO: fix iso_conn related locking and validity issues

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: ISO: fix iso_conn related locking and validity issues sk->sk_state indicates whether iso_pi(sk)->conn is valid. Operations that check/update sk_state and access conn should hold lock_sock, otherwise they can race. The order of taking locks is hci_dev_lock > lock_sock > iso_conn_lock, which is how it is in connect/disconnect_cfm -> iso_conn_del -> iso_chan_del. Fix locking in iso_connect_cis/bis and sendmsg/recvmsg to take lock_sock around updating sk_state and conn. iso_conn_del must not occur during iso_connect_cis/bis, as it frees the iso_conn. Hold hdev->lock longer to prevent that. This should not reintroduce the issue fixed in commit 241f51931c35 ("Bluetooth: ISO: Avoid circular locking dependency"), since the we acquire locks in order. We retain the fix in iso_sock_connect to release lock_sock before iso_connect_* acquires hdev->lock. Similarly for commit 6a5ad251b7cd ("Bluetooth: ISO: Fix possible circular locking dependency"). We retain the fix in iso_conn_ready to not acquire iso_conn_lock before lock_sock. iso_conn_add shall return iso_conn with valid hcon. Make it so also when reusing an old CIS connection waiting for disconnect timeout (see __iso_sock_close where conn->hcon is set to NULL). Trace with iso_conn_del after iso_chan_add in iso_connect_cis: =============================================================== iso_sock_create:771: sock 00000000be9b69b7 iso_sock_init:693: sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_bind:827: sk 000000004dff667e 70:1a:b8:98:ff:a2 type 1 iso_sock_setsockopt:1289: sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_setsockopt:1289: sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_setsockopt:1289: sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_connect:875: sk 000000004dff667e iso_connect_cis:353: 70:1a:b8:98:ff:a2 -> 28:3d:c2:4a:7e:da hci_get_route:1199: 70:1a:b8:98:ff:a2 -> 28:3d:c2:4a:7e:da hci_conn_add:1005: hci0 dst 28:3d:c2:4a:7e:da iso_conn_add:140: hcon 000000007b65d182 conn 00000000daf8625e __iso_chan_add:214: conn 00000000daf8625e iso_connect_cfm:1700: hcon 000000007b65d182 bdaddr 28:3d:c2:4a:7e:da status 12 iso_conn_del:187: hcon 000000007b65d182 conn 00000000daf8625e, err 16 iso_sock_clear_timer:117: sock 000000004dff667e state 3 <Note: sk_state is BT_BOUND (3), so iso_connect_cis is still running at this point> iso_chan_del:153: sk 000000004dff667e, conn 00000000daf8625e, err 16 hci_conn_del:1151: hci0 hcon 000000007b65d182 handle 65535 hci_conn_unlink:1102: hci0: hcon 000000007b65d182 hci_chan_list_flush:2780: hcon 000000007b65d182 iso_sock_getsockopt:1376: sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_getname:1070: sock 00000000be9b69b7, sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_getname:1070: sock 00000000be9b69b7, sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_getsockopt:1376: sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_getname:1070: sock 00000000be9b69b7, sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_getname:1070: sock 00000000be9b69b7, sk 000000004dff667e iso_sock_shutdown:1434: sock 00000000be9b69b7, sk 000000004dff667e, how 1 __iso_sock_close:632: sk 000000004dff667e state 5 socket 00000000be9b69b7 <Note: sk_state is BT_CONNECT (5), even though iso_chan_del sets BT_CLOSED (6). Only iso_connect_cis sets it to BT_CONNECT, so it must be that iso_chan_del occurred between iso_chan_add and end of iso_connect_cis.> BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 PGD 8000000006467067 P4D 8000000006467067 PUD 3f5f067 PMD 0 Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP PTI Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.2-1.fc38 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:__iso_sock_close (net/bluetooth/iso.c:664) bluetooth =============================================================== Trace with iso_conn_del before iso_chan_add in iso_connect_cis: =============================================================== iso_connect_cis:356: 70:1a:b8:98:ff:a2 -> 28:3d:c2:4a:7e:da ... iso_conn_add:140: hcon 0000000093bc551f conn 00000000768ae504 hci_dev_put:1487: hci0 orig refcnt 21 hci_event_packet:7607: hci0: e ---truncated---

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 Bluetooth flaw where incorrect locking can let connection state change underneath Bluetooth ISO socket operations. The observed failure is a kernel NULL pointer dereference, which can crash the kernel. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, confirmed exploitation, or complete deployment-specific impact details.

Executive priority

Track this as a kernel stability and availability risk, not a confirmed breach indicator. Prioritize patching where Bluetooth is enabled or local users are untrusted. Escalate urgency if your Linux vendor assigns a high severity or reports exploitation.

Technical view

The issue is in Linux Bluetooth ISO handling. Operations checking sk_state and accessing iso_pi(sk)->conn were not consistently protected by lock_sock, allowing races with iso_conn_del and stale or NULL connection state. Stable kernel commits change lock ordering and connection validity handling around ISO connect, sendmsg, recvmsg, and deletion paths.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most plausible on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with Bluetooth ISO support reachable through local Bluetooth/socket activity. The CVE data lists Linux kernel affected entries including 6.2, 6.1.42, 6.4.7, and 6.5, but version data is incomplete and should be checked against vendor kernels.

Exploitation context

The bundle shows crash traces demonstrating the race and NULL pointer dereference. It does not cite active exploitation, public weaponization, KEV listing, required privileges, or remote exploitability. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed from the provided sources.

Researcher notes

The core evidence is a race between sk_state, iso_pi(sk)->conn validity, and iso_conn_del freeing connection state. The record lacks CVSS and CWE metadata. The affected-version list appears mechanically derived and should be validated against stable backports and distribution kernel patches.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor kernel update containing the referenced Linux stable Bluetooth ISO fixes.
  • Check distribution advisories for exact affected and fixed kernel package versions.
  • Prioritize hosts with enabled Bluetooth hardware, Bluetooth services, or untrusted local users.
  • If Bluetooth is unnecessary, consider vendor-supported Bluetooth disablement as a temporary exposure reduction.
  • Do not rely on upstream version strings alone for vendor-patched kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and distribution package build numbers.
  • Confirm whether Bluetooth and ISO-related kernel support are enabled on exposed systems.
  • Map running kernels to vendor advisories or the referenced stable commits.
  • Review kernel logs for Bluetooth ISO crashes or NULL pointer dereference events.
  • Regression test Bluetooth functionality after applying kernel updates.
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

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CVE-2023-54164 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
4Source 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
LinuxLinuxc524f9561c657b8af26dd4f67092b8928261aa62, 241f51931c35085449502c10f64fb3ecd6e02171, 241f51931c35085449502c10f64fb3ecd6e02171, 2539cbc625c560d5432e2f0fc04bfe4a889cf737, 6.1.9unaffected
LinuxLinux6.2, 0, 6.1.42, 6.4.7, 6.5affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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