CVE-2023-53102 is a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ice network driver, specifically related to the handling of interrupts and queue pairs (qp) in the context of XDP (eXpress Data Path) socket (xsk) operations. The vulnerability arises from a race condition where the transmit queue (txq) interrupt is disabled after the hardware flush operation, rendering the interrupt disable ineffective. This improper ordering allows the NAPI (New API) polling mechanism to be scheduled and run while the xsk_pool pointer remains valid, but the software ring buffer of xdp_buff pointers has already been freed. This leads to a NULL pointer dereference in kernel space, causing a kernel oops and potential system crash or denial of service. The issue can be triggered by starting an xdpsock without loading an XDP program, running xdp_rxq_info with XDP_TX action on the interface, initiating traffic, and then terminating the xdpsock. The root cause is that interrupts on the transmit queue are not disabled before flushing hardware, allowing the kernel to access freed memory. The fix involves reordering the calls to disable interrupts before flushing hardware and removing redundant calls to clean RX rings. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions containing the ice driver with the described behavior and is relevant to systems using XDP socket features for high-performance packet processing.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-53102 can be significant in environments relying on Linux servers with Intel ice network adapters, especially those leveraging XDP sockets for high-performance networking tasks such as telecom infrastructure, cloud data centers, and edge computing. The vulnerability can lead to kernel crashes (denial of service), potentially disrupting critical services and network functions. While there is no evidence of exploitation in the wild, the ability to cause kernel NULL pointer dereference without requiring user interaction or authentication means that local or network-exposed services using XDP sockets could be destabilized. This could affect availability of network services, leading to operational downtime and potential cascading effects in service delivery. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are less direct but could arise if attackers use the crash to trigger further exploitation or bypass security controls. Given the increasing adoption of XDP for packet processing acceleration in European telecom and cloud providers, the vulnerability poses a tangible risk to infrastructure stability.

European organizations should apply the Linux kernel patches that reorder the interrupt disable and hardware flush operations in the ice driver as soon as they become available. Specifically, ensure that the kernel version in use includes the fix that calls ice_qvec_dis_irq() after ice_vsi_stop_tx_ring() and removes redundant ring cleaning calls. In the interim, organizations should audit the use of XDP sockets and consider disabling or restricting XDP_TX actions on interfaces using the ice driver if feasible. Monitoring kernel logs for signs of NULL pointer dereferences or ice driver oops messages can help detect attempted exploitation or instability. Additionally, organizations should maintain strict control over who can load or manage XDP programs and sockets, limiting access to trusted administrators. Network segmentation and limiting exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks can reduce risk. Finally, testing kernel updates in staging environments before deployment is recommended to ensure stability.