CVE-2023-54181: Linux

EPSS: 0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix issue in verifying allow_ptr_leaks After we converted the capabilities of our networking-bpf program from cap_sys_admin to cap_net_admin+cap_bpf, our networking-bpf program failed to start. Because it failed the bpf verifier, and the error log is "R3 pointer comparison prohibited". A simple reproducer as follows, SEC("cls-ingress") int ingress(struct __sk_buff *skb) { struct iphdr *iph = (void *)(long)skb->data + sizeof(struct ethhdr); if ((long)(iph + 1) > (long)skb->data_end) return TC_ACT_STOLEN; return TC_ACT_OK; } Per discussion with Yonghong and Alexei [1], comparison of two packet pointers is not a pointer leak. This patch fixes it. Our local kernel is 6.1.y and we expect this fix to be backported to 6.1.y, so stable is CCed. [1]. https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/CAADnVQ+Nmspr7Si+pxWn8zkE7hX-7s93ugwC+94aXSy4uQ9vBg@mail.gmail.com/

Affected products

• Linux Linux: from 5.8, before 6.1.53 (fixed in 6.1.53); from 6.2, before 6.4.16 (fixed in 6.4.16); from 6.5, before 6.5.3 (fixed in 6.5.3)

Published 2025-12-30. Last modified 2026-06-17.