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CVE-2023-53499: virtio_net: Fix error unwinding of XDP initialization

• Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2025-10-01 · updated 2026-10-15

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio_net: Fix error unwinding of XDP initialization When initializing XDP in virtnet_open(), some rq xdp initialization may hit an error causing net device open failed. However, previous rqs have already initialized XDP and enabled NAPI, which is not the expected behavior. Need to roll back the previous rq initialization to avoid leaks in error unwinding of init code. Also extract helper functions of disable and enable queue pairs. Use newly introduced disable helper function in error unwinding and virtnet_close. Use enable helper function in virtnet_open.

Affected products

• Linux kernel: from 4.16 before 5.15.113; from 5.16 before 6.1.30; from 6.2 before 6.3.4; 6.4-rc1, 6.4-rc2 — fixed in 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/037768b28e3752c07d63d1c72a651a6775b080bb
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5306623a9826aa7d63b32c6a3803c798a765474d
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6a7690f2bd178eee80f33411ae32e543ae66379c
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/73f53bc295727a3cdbd9d6bcdfaa239258970cf4

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