In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Fix issue in verifying allow_ptr_leaks

After we converted the capabilities of our networking-bpf program from
cap_sys_admin to cap_net_admin+cap_bpf, our networking-bpf program
failed to start. Because it failed the bpf verifier, and the error log
is "R3 pointer comparison prohibited".

A simple reproducer as follows,

SEC("cls-ingress")
int ingress(struct __sk_buff *skb)
{
struct iphdr *iph = (void *)(long)skb->data + sizeof(struct ethhdr);

if ((long)(iph + 1) > (long)skb->data_end)
return TC_ACT_STOLEN;
return TC_ACT_OK;
}

Per discussion with Yonghong and Alexei [1], comparison of two packet
pointers is not a pointer leak. This patch fixes it.

Our local kernel is 6.1.y and we expect this fix to be backported to
6.1.y, so stable is CCed.

[1]. https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/CAADnVQ+Nmspr7Si+pxWn8zkE7hX-7s93ugwC+94aXSy4uQ9vBg@mail.gmail.com/

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

The EPSS score is 0.00025.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
Linux Linux unaffected
Version Status Constraints
2c78ee898d8f10ae6fb2fa23a3fbaec96b1b7366 affected < c96c67991aac6401b4c6996093bccb704bb2ea4b
2c78ee898d8f10ae6fb2fa23a3fbaec96b1b7366 affected < 5927f0172d2809d8fc09c1ba667280b0387e9f73
2c78ee898d8f10ae6fb2fa23a3fbaec96b1b7366 affected < acfdc8b77016c8e648aadc283177546c88083dd3
2c78ee898d8f10ae6fb2fa23a3fbaec96b1b7366 affected < d75e30dddf73449bc2d10bb8e2f1a2c446bc67a2
Linux Linux affected
Version Status Constraints
5.8 affected —
0 unaffected < 5.8
6.1.53 unaffected ≤ 6.1.*
6.4.16 unaffected ≤ 6.4.*
6.5.3 unaffected ≤ 6.5.*
6.6 unaffected ≤ *

No data.

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No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5927f0172d2809d8fc09c1ba667280b0387e9f73 cve-icon cve-icon
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/acfdc8b77016c8e648aadc283177546c88083dd3 cve-icon cve-icon
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c96c67991aac6401b4c6996093bccb704bb2ea4b cve-icon cve-icon
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d75e30dddf73449bc2d10bb8e2f1a2c446bc67a2 cve-icon cve-icon
https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/2025123024-CVE-2023-54181-ef94@gregkh/T cve-icon
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-54181 cve-icon
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-54181 cve-icon
History

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix issue in verifying allow_ptr_leaks After we converted the capabilities of our networking-bpf program from cap_sys_admin to cap_net_admin+cap_bpf, our networking-bpf program failed to start. Because it failed the bpf verifier, and the error log is "R3 pointer comparison prohibited". A simple reproducer as follows, SEC("cls-ingress") int ingress(struct __sk_buff *skb) { struct iphdr *iph = (void *)(long)skb->data + sizeof(struct ethhdr); if ((long)(iph + 1) > (long)skb->data_end) return TC_ACT_STOLEN; return TC_ACT_OK; } Per discussion with Yonghong and Alexei [1], comparison of two packet pointers is not a pointer leak. This patch fixes it. Our local kernel is 6.1.y and we expect this fix to be backported to 6.1.y, so stable is CCed. [1]. https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/CAADnVQ+Nmspr7Si+pxWn8zkE7hX-7s93ugwC+94aXSy4uQ9vBg@mail.gmail.com/
Title bpf: Fix issue in verifying allow_ptr_leaks
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-01-05T10:51:18.210Z

Reserved: 2025-12-30T12:06:44.497Z

Link: CVE-2023-54181

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2025-12-30T13:16:06.037

Modified: 2025-12-31T20:43:05.160

Link: CVE-2023-54181

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Low

Publid Date: 2025-12-30T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2023-54181 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.