# CVE-2023-0122: Null dereference in Kernel

> A NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel NVMe subsystem allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-chp6-wqp3-f3gg, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-0122

## What is CVE-2023-0122?

CVE-2023-0122 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 17 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel NVMe functionality, in nvmet_setup_auth(), allows an attacker to perform a Pre-Auth Denial of Service (DoS) attack on a remote machine. Affected versions v6.0-rc1 to v6.0-rc3, fixed in v6.0-rc4.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-0122?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-0122?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-0122 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-0122 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-0122 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-0122 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 17 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-0122 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0122/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0122/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-0122
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-0122
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-0122

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0122/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.