CVE-2023-54166
NoneCVSS
—
EPSS
0.2%
Published
Dec 30, 2025
CISA due date
—
Cloudanix analysis
A bug in the Linux kernel network driver for certain Intel chips can make the whole computer crash when the network gets very busy or the connection is reset.
- Exploitation
- Local Privilege
- Attacker needs
- Low Privilege
- Complexity
- Moderate
- Impact
- Denial Of Service
- Component
- OS kernel
- Class
- Race Condition
- Remediation
- Upgrade
- Effort
- Medium
- Patch risk
- Low
What it actually does
Race condition in the igc Ethernet driver between igc_tx_timeout(), igc_down()/igc_up() reinitialization, and igc_clean_tx_irq() allowing invalid TX ring state or use-after-free during hardware queue reset, resulting in kernel panic.
Why it matters to the business
Linux systems using Intel I225/I226 controllers can suffer unexpected kernel panics and reboots under sustained network load or during interface flapping, reducing system availability and requiring manual intervention.
How an attack unfolds
An attacker or automated workload induces a TX queue timeout (via high traffic or crafted packets) at the precise moment an interface is brought down and up; the resulting interrupt and timeout handler race triggers the panic. No named threat actors or public exploits are known.
How to fix it
Upgrade the Linux kernel to a fixed version: 5.10.241 or newer, 6.16.5-1 or newer, or apply commit b842ef39c2ad6156c13afdec25ecc6792a9b67b9 from the stable git tree. Reboot after installation.
How to confirm the fix worked
Verify running kernel version contains the fix; reproduce TX timeout conditions while monitoring for absence of dev_watchdog panics; confirm igc_disable_tx_ring_hw is called during igc_down.
Typical attack path
- Generate sufficient TX traffic to trigger watchdog timeout on an igc interface
- Simultaneously trigger interface down/up (ifup/ifdown or driver reload)
- Allow interrupt to invoke igc_clean_tx_irq() while igc_tx_timeout() resets queues
- Trigger kernel panic via invalid ring state
How to detect it
Search kernel logs and dmesg for 'NETDEV WATCHDOG: .* igc.* transmit queue .* timed out', 'dev_watchdog', and RIP addresses inside igc or sch_generic; correlate with igc module load and interface state changes.
What your security team should do
- Prioritize kernel upgrades on all systems exposing igc interfaces within 30 days
- Add monitoring for NETDEV WATCHDOG transmit queue timeout messages
- Test network interface reset paths in staging environments before production rollout
The record
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: igc: Fix Kernel Panic during ndo_tx_timeout callback The Xeon validation group has been carrying out some loaded tests with various HW configurations, and they have seen some transmit queue time out happening during the test. This will cause the reset adapter function to be called by igc_tx_timeout(). Similar race conditions may arise when the interface is being brought down and up in igc_reinit_locked(), an interrupt being generated, and igc_clean_tx_irq() being called to complete the TX. When the igc_tx_timeout() function is invoked, this patch will turn off all TX ring HW queues during igc_down() process. TX ring HW queues will be activated again during the igc_configure_tx_ring() process when performing the igc_up() procedure later. This patch also moved existing igc_disable_tx_ring_hw() to avoid using forward declaration. Kernel trace: [ 7678.747813] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 7678.757914] NETDEV WATCHDOG: enp1s0 (igc): transmit queue 2 timed out [ 7678.770117] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 13 at net/sched/sch_generic.c:525 dev_watchdog+0x1ae/0x1f0 [ 7678.784459] Modules linked in: xt_conntrack nft_chain_nat xt_MASQUERADE xt_addrtype nft_compat nf_tables nfnetlink br_netfilter bridge stp llc overlay dm_mod emrcha(PO) emriio(PO) rktpm(PO) cegbuf_mod(PO) patch_update(PO) se(PO) sgx_tgts(PO) mktme(PO) keylocker(PO) svtdx(PO) svfs_pci_hotplug(PO) vtd_mod(PO) davemem(PO) svmabort(PO) svindexio(PO) usbx2(PO) ehci_sched(PO) svheartbeat(PO) ioapic(PO) sv8259(PO) svintr(PO) lt(PO) pcierootport(PO) enginefw_mod(PO) ata(PO) smbus(PO) spiflash_cdf(PO) arden(PO) dsa_iax(PO) oobmsm_punit(PO) cpm(PO) svkdb(PO) ebg_pch(PO) pch(PO) sviotargets(PO) svbdf(PO) svmem(PO) svbios(PO) dram(PO) svtsc(PO) targets(PO) superio(PO) svkernel(PO) cswitch(PO) mcf(PO) pentiumIII_mod(PO) fs_svfs(PO) mdevdefdb(PO) svfs_os_services(O) ixgbe mdio mdio_devres libphy emeraldrapids_svdefs(PO) regsupport(O) libnvdimm nls_cp437 snd_hda_codec_realtek snd_hda_codec_generic ledtrig_audio snd_hda_intel snd_intel_dspcfg snd_hda_codec snd_hwdep x86_pkg_temp_thermal snd_hda_core snd_pcm snd_timer isst_if_mbox_pci [ 7678.784496] input_leds isst_if_mmio sg snd isst_if_common soundcore wmi button sad9(O) drm fuse backlight configfs efivarfs ip_tables x_tables vmd sdhci led_class rtl8150 r8152 hid_generic pegasus mmc_block usbhid mmc_core hid megaraid_sas ixgb igb i2c_algo_bit ice i40e hpsa scsi_transport_sas e1000e e1000 e100 ax88179_178a usbnet xhci_pci sd_mod xhci_hcd t10_pi crc32c_intel crc64_rocksoft igc crc64 crc_t10dif usbcore crct10dif_generic ptp crct10dif_common usb_common pps_core [ 7679.200403] RIP: 0010:dev_watchdog+0x1ae/0x1f0 [ 7679.210201] Code: 28 e9 53 ff ff ff 4c 89 e7 c6 05 06 42 b9 00 01 e8 17 d1 fb ff 44 89 e9 4c 89 e6 48 c7 c7 40 ad fb 81 48 89 c2 e8 52 62 82 ff <0f> 0b e9 72 ff ff ff 65 8b 05 80 7d 7c 7e 89 c0 48 0f a3 05 0a c1 [ 7679.245438] RSP: 0018:ffa00000001f7d90 EFLAGS: 00010282 [ 7679.256021] RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ff11000109938440 RCX: 0000000000000000 [ 7679.268710] RDX: ff11000361e26cd8 RSI: ff11000361e1b880 RDI: ff11000361e1b880 [ 7679.281314] RBP: ffa00000001f7da8 R08: ff1100035f8fffe8 R09: 0000000000027ffb [ 7679.293840] R10: 0000000000001f0a R11: ff1100035f840000 R12: ff11000109938000 [ 7679.306276] R13: 0000000000000002 R14: dead000000000122 R15: ffa00000001f7e18 [ 7679.318648] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ff11000361e00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 7679.332064] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 7679.342757] CR2: 00007ffff7fca168 CR3: 000000013b08a006 CR4: 0000000000471ef8 [ 7679.354984] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1: 0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000 [ 7679.367207] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6: 00000000fffe07f0 DR7: 0000000000000400 [ 7679.379370] PKRU: 55555554 [ 7679.386446] Call Trace: [ 7679.393152] <TASK> [ 7679.399363] ? __pfx_dev_watchdog+0x10/0x10 [ 7679.407870] call_timer_fn+0x31/0x110 [ 7679.415698] e ---truncated---
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Introduced | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Kernel | 0 | 5.15.124 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-64kb | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-default-base | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-docs | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-source | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | kernel-syms | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-64kb | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default-base | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-docs | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-source | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-syms | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_48 | 0 | 1-150400.9.7.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_19 | 0 | 1-150600.13.3.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | kernel-source-rt | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | kernel-source-rt | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt | 0 | 5.14.21-150500.13.118.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | kernel-source-rt | 0 | 5.14.21-150500.13.118.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-64kb | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-default-base | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-docs | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-source | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-syms | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | kernel-zfcpdump | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-64kb | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-default-base | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1.150600.12.38.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-docs | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-syms | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | kernel-zfcpdump | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-docs | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-source | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | kernel-syms | 0 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1.150600.12.38.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-docs | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | kernel-syms | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | dtb-aarch64 | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-64kb | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-debug | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-default | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-default-base | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1.150600.12.38.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-docs | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-kvmsmall | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-obs-build | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-obs-qa | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-source | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-syms | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | kernel-zfcpdump | 0 | 6.4.0-150600.23.84.1 |
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