CVE-2023-52843: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: llc: verify mac len before reading mac header LLC reads the mac header with eth_...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: llc: verify mac len before reading mac header LLC reads the mac header with eth_hdr without verifying that the skb has an Ethernet header. Syzbot was able to enter llc_rcv on a tun device. Tun can insert packets without mac len and with user configurable skb->protocol (passing a tun_pi header when not configuring IFF_NO_PI). BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in llc_station_ac_send_test_r net/llc/llc_station.c:81 [inline] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in llc_station_rcv+0x6fb/0x1290 net/llc/llc_station.c:111 llc_station_ac_send_test_r net/llc/llc_station.c:81 [inline] llc_station_rcv+0x6fb/0x1290 net/llc/llc_station.c:111 llc_rcv+0xc5d/0x14a0 net/llc/llc_input.c:218 __netif_receive_skb_one_core net/core/dev.c:5523 [inline] __netif_receive_skb+0x1a6/0x5a0 net/core/dev.c:5637 netif_receive_skb_internal net/core/dev.c:5723 [inline] netif_receive_skb+0x58/0x660 net/core/dev.c:5782 tun_rx_batched+0x3ee/0x980 drivers/net/tun.c:1555 tun_get_user+0x54c5/0x69c0 drivers/net/tun.c:2002 Add a mac_len test before all three eth_hdr(skb) calls under net/llc. There are further uses in include/net/llc_pdu.h. All these are protected by a test skb->protocol == ETH_P_802_2. Which does not protect against this tun scenario. But the mac_len test added in this patch in llc_fixup_skb will indirectly protect those too. That is called from llc_rcv before any other LLC code. It is tempting to just add a blanket mac_len check in llc_rcv, but not sure whether that could break valid LLC paths that do not assume an Ethernet header. 802.2 LLC may be used on top of non-802.3 protocols in principle. The below referenced commit shows that used to, on top of Token Ring. At least one of the three eth_hdr uses goes back to before the start of git history. But the one that syzbot exercises is introduced in this commit. That commit is old enough (2008), that effectively all stable kernels should receive this.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.24%

15.6th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-908

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 2.6.26, < 4.14.330
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.15, < 4.19.299
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.20, < 5.4.261
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.5, < 5.10.201
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.11, < 5.15.139
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.16, < 6.1.63
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.2, < 6.5.12
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.6, < 6.6.2
Linux	Linux Kernel	2.6.25

References

Timeline

Published: May 21, 2024
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-52843?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: llc: verify mac len before reading mac header LLC reads the mac header with eth_hdr without verifying that the skb has an Ethernet header. Syzbot was able to enter llc_rcv on a tun device. Tun can insert packets without mac len and with user configurable skb->protocol (passing a tun_pi header when not configuring IFF_NO_PI). BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in llc_station_ac_send_test_r net/llc/llc_station.c:81 [inline] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in llc_station_rcv+0x6fb/0x1290 net/llc/llc_station.c:111 llc_station_ac_send_test_r net/llc/llc_station.c:81 [inline] llc_station_rcv+0x6fb/0x1290 net/llc/llc_station.c:111 llc_rcv+0xc5d/0x14a0 net/llc/llc_input.c:218 __netif_receive_skb_one_core net/core/dev.c:5523 [inline] __netif_receive_skb+0x1a6/0x5a0 net/core/dev.c:5637 netif_receive_skb_internal net/core/dev.c:5723 [inline] netif_receive_skb+0x58/0x660 net/core/dev.c:5782 tun_rx_batched+0x3ee/0x980 drivers/net/tun.c:1555 tun_get_user+0x54c5/0x69c0 drivers/net/tun.c:2002 Add a mac_len test before all three eth_hdr(skb) calls under net/llc. There are further uses in include/net/llc_pdu.h. All these are protected by a test skb->protocol == ETH_P_802_2. Which does not protect against this tun scenario. But the mac_len test added in this patch in llc_fixup_skb will indirectly protect those too. That is called from llc_rcv before any other LLC code. It is tempting to just add a blanket mac_len check in llc_rcv, but not sure whether that could break valid LLC paths that do not assume an Ethernet header. 802.2 LLC may be used on top of non-802.3 protocols in principle. The below referenced commit shows that used to, on top of Token Ring. At least one of the three eth_hdr uses goes back to before the start of git history. But the one that syzbot exercises is introduced in this commit. That commit is old enough (2008), that effectively all stable kernels should receive this.

How severe is CVE-2023-52843?

CVE-2023-52843 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.24% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2023-52843?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.