CVE-2023-54087 ubi: Fix possible null-ptr-deref in ubi_free_volume()
A null pointer dereference in the Linux kernel UBI subsystem allows local attackers to cause a denial of service via improper error handling during volume addition.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-54087?
CVE-2023-54087 is a 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:
ubi: Fix possible null-ptr-deref in ubi_free_volume()
It willl cause null-ptr-deref in the following case:
uif_init() ubi_add_volume() cdev_add() -> if it fails, call kill_volumes() device_register()
kill_volumes() -> if ubi_add_volume() fails call this function ubi_free_volume() cdev_del() device_unregister() -> trying to delete a not added device, it causes null-ptr-deref
So in ubi_free_volume(), it delete devices whether they are added or not, it will causes null-ptr-deref.
Handle the error case whlie calling ubi_add_volume() to fix this problem. If add volume fails, set the corresponding vol to null, so it can not be accessed in kill_volumes() and release the resource in ubi_add_volume() error path.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54087?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54087?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2023-54087 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54087 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54087, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54087, GHSA-9w7w-3xjc-3wgw, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54087.