CVE-2023-54074 net/mlx5e: Use correct encap attribute during invalidation
A logic error in the Mellanox mlx5e network driver causes incorrect resource invalidation, leading to kernel warnings and potential instability.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-54074?
CVE-2023-54074 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux, published on 24 Dec 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/mlx5e: Use correct encap attribute during invalidation
With introduction of post action infrastructure most of the users of encap attribute had been modified in order to obtain the correct attribute by calling mlx5e_tc_get_encap_attr() helper instead of assuming encap action is always on default attribute. However, the cited commit didn't modify mlx5e_invalidate_encap() which prevents it from destroying correct modify header action which leads to a warning [0]. Fix the issue by using correct attribute.
[0]:
Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: WARNING: CPU: 17 PID: 654 at drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c:684 mlx5e_tc_attach_mod_hdr+0x1cc/0x230 [mlx5_core] Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: RIP: 0010:mlx5e_tc_attach_mod_hdr+0x1cc/0x230 [mlx5_core] Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: Call Trace: Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: <TASK> Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: mlx5e_tc_fib_event_work+0x8e3/0x1f60 [mlx5_core] Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? mlx5e_take_all_encap_flows+0xe0/0xe0 [mlx5_core] Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? lock_downgrade+0x6d0/0x6d0 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? lockdep_hardirqs_on_prepare+0x273/0x3f0 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? lockdep_hardirqs_on_prepare+0x273/0x3f0 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: process_one_work+0x7c2/0x1310 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? lockdep_hardirqs_on_prepare+0x3f0/0x3f0 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? pwq_dec_nr_in_flight+0x230/0x230 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? rwlock_bug.part.0+0x90/0x90 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: worker_thread+0x59d/0xec0 Feb 21 09:47:35 c-237-177-40-045 kernel: ? __kthread_parkme+0xd9/0x1d0
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54074?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54074?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2023-54074 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54074 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54074, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54074, GHSA-cwm2-rxg5-4hcx, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54074.