CVE-2023-54234 scsi: mpi3mr: Fix missing mrioc->evtack_cmds initialization
A missing initialization in the mpi3mr SCSI driver causes a use-after-free bug, leading to kernel crashes during firmware updates.
- 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-2023-54234?
CVE-2023-54234 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 30 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:
scsi: mpi3mr: Fix missing mrioc->evtack_cmds initialization
Commit c1af985d27da ("scsi: mpi3mr: Add Event acknowledgment logic") introduced an array mrioc->evtack_cmds but initialization of the array elements was missed. They are just zero cleared. The function mpi3mr_complete_evt_ack() refers host_tag field of the elements. Due to the zero value of the host_tag field, the function calls clear_bit() for mrico->evtack_cmds_bitmap with wrong bit index. This results in memory access to invalid address and "BUG: KASAN: use-after-free". This BUG was observed at eHBA-9600 firmware update to version 8.3.1.0. To fix it, add the missing initialization of mrioc->evtack_cmds.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54234?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54234?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2023-54234 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54234 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54234, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54234, GHSA-6fx2-6qwr-35w9, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2023-54234, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54234.