CVE-2023-54323 cxl/pmem: Fix nvdimm registration races
A race condition in the Linux kernel CXL/PMEM driver allows local attackers to cause a system crash via module loading/unloading.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-54323?
CVE-2023-54323 is a 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:
cxl/pmem: Fix nvdimm registration races
A loop of the form:
while true; do modprobe cxl_pci; modprobe -r cxl_pci; done
...fails with the following crash signature:
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000040 [..] RIP: 0010:cxl_internal_send_cmd+0x5/0xb0 [cxl_core] [..] Call Trace: <TASK> cxl_pmem_ctl+0x121/0x240 [cxl_pmem] nvdimm_get_config_data+0xd6/0x1a0 [libnvdimm] nd_label_data_init+0x135/0x7e0 [libnvdimm] nvdimm_probe+0xd6/0x1c0 [libnvdimm] nvdimm_bus_probe+0x7a/0x1e0 [libnvdimm] really_probe+0xde/0x380 __driver_probe_device+0x78/0x170 driver_probe_device+0x1f/0x90 __device_attach_driver+0x85/0x110 bus_for_each_drv+0x7d/0xc0 __device_attach+0xb4/0x1e0 bus_probe_device+0x9f/0xc0 device_add+0x445/0x9c0 nd_async_device_register+0xe/0x40 [libnvdimm] async_run_entry_fn+0x30/0x130
...namely that the bottom half of async nvdimm device registration runs after the CXL has already torn down the context that cxl_pmem_ctl() needs. Unlike the ACPI NFIT case that benefits from launching multiple nvdimm device registrations in parallel from those listed in the table, CXL is already marked PROBE_PREFER_ASYNCHRONOUS. So provide for a synchronous registration path to preclude this scenario.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54323?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54323?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2023-54323 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54323 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54323, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54323, GHSA-9rp2-rcxm-vpww, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2023-54323, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54323.