Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ibmvnic: Do not reset dql...
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ibmvnic: Do not reset dql stats on NON_FATAL err
All ibmvnic resets, make a call to netdev_tx_reset_queue() when
re-opening the device. netdev_tx_reset_queue() resets the num_queued
and num_completed byte counters. These stats are used in Byte Queue
Limit (BQL) algorithms. The difference between these two stats tracks
the number of bytes currently sitting on the physical NIC. ibmvnic
increases the number of queued bytes though calls to
netdev_tx_sent_queue() in the drivers xmit function. When, VIOS reports
that it is done transmitting bytes, the ibmvnic device increases the
number of completed bytes through calls to netdev_tx_completed_queue().
It is important to note that the driver batches its transmit calls and
num_queued is increased every time that an skb is added to the next
batch, not necessarily when the batch is sent to VIOS for transmission.
Unlike other reset types, a NON FATAL reset will not flush the sub crq
tx buffers. Therefore, it is possible for the batched skb array to be
partially full. So if there is call to netdev_tx_reset_queue() when
re-opening the device, the value of num_queued (0) would not account
for the skb's that are currently batched. Eventually, when the batch
is sent to VIOS, the call to netdev_tx_completed_queue() would increase
num_completed to a value greater than the num_queued. This causes a
BUG_ON crash:
ibmvnic 30000002: Firmware reports error, cause: adapter problem.
Starting recovery...
ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600
ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600
ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600
ibmvnic 30000002: tx error 600
------------[ cut here ]------------
kernel BUG at lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c:27!
Oops: Exception in kernel mode, sig: 5
[....]
NIP dql_completed+0x28/0x1c0
LR ibmvnic_complete_tx.isra.0+0x23c/0x420 [ibmvnic]
Call Trace:
ibmvnic_complete_tx.isra.0+0x3f8/0x420 [ibmvnic] (unreliable)
ibmvnic_interrupt_tx+0x40/0x70 [ibmvnic]
__handle_irq_event_percpu+0x98/0x270
---[ end trace ]---
Therefore, do not reset the dql stats when performing a NON_FATAL reset.
Impact
CVE-2023-53463 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). The vector is requires local access, low privileges required, and no user interaction. A CVSS score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether this affects your application depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable in your environment. No fixed version is listed yet, so configuration controls and monitoring matter more in the interim.
Affected versions
Security releases
Kodem intelligence
Severity tells you how bad this could be in the worst case. It does not tell you whether you are exposed. Exploitability and impact are functions of runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A vulnerable package can sit in your dependency tree and never run.
Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter. Kodem's runtime-powered SCA identifies whether this CVE is reachable in your applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVE-2023-53463? CVE-2023-53463 is a medium-severity security vulnerability. No fixed version is listed yet.
- How severe is CVE-2023-53463? CVE-2023-53463 has a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium). This score reflects the worst-case severity of the vulnerability, not your specific exposure. Whether it represents real risk in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2023-53463? No fixed version is listed for CVE-2023-53463 yet. Monitor the advisory for updates and apply mitigations in the interim.
- Is CVE-2023-53463 exploitable, and should I be worried? Whether CVE-2023-53463 is exploitable in your environment depends on whether the vulnerable code is present and reachable. A CVSS score is a worst-case rating; it does not account for your specific deployment, configuration, or usage patterns. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to show which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so you can focus on the ones that represent real risk. Get a demo
- What actually determines whether CVE-2023-53463 is exploitable, and how bad it is? Exploitability and impact are not fixed properties of a CVE. They depend on runtime truth: whether the vulnerable code is present, reachable, and actually executes in your application. A high CVSS score on a dependency that never runs is not the same as real risk. Kodem, an Intelligent Application Security platform, uses runtime intelligence to reveal which vulnerabilities actually execute in production, so teams prioritize the ones that genuinely matter.