CVE-2023-54166
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
Race Condition Causing Kernel Panic in Linux igc Driver

Publication date: 2025-12-30

Last updated on: 2025-12-30

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
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---
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Meta Information
Published
2025-12-30
Last Modified
2025-12-30
Generated
2026-05-07
AI Q&A
2025-12-30
EPSS Evaluated
2026-05-05
NVD
CVE-2023-54166
EUVD
EUVD-2023-60475
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
intel igc *
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
CWE Icon
KEV
KEV Icon
CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?

This vulnerability is a race condition in the Linux kernel's igc network driver that can cause a kernel panic during the ndo_tx_timeout callback. It occurs when the transmit queue times out, triggering a reset adapter function. The issue arises from race conditions during interface down/up operations and interrupt handling, which can lead to a kernel panic. The fix involves turning off all TX ring hardware queues during the igc_down() process and reactivating them during igc_up(), preventing the race condition.


How can this vulnerability impact me? :

This vulnerability can cause a kernel panic, which leads to a system crash or reboot. This disrupts network connectivity and can cause downtime or loss of service on systems using the affected igc network driver, impacting system stability and availability.


How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?

This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring kernel logs for messages indicating transmit queue timeouts related to the igc driver. Specifically, look for kernel trace messages such as 'NETDEV WATCHDOG: <interface> (igc): transmit queue <n> timed out' and warnings from dev_watchdog. You can use commands like 'dmesg | grep igc' or 'journalctl -k | grep igc' to check for these messages.


What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?

Immediate mitigation involves updating the Linux kernel to a version that includes the patch fixing the igc transmit queue timeout issue. The patch ensures that all TX ring hardware queues are turned off during the igc_down() process and reactivated during igc_up(), preventing kernel panic. Until the update is applied, monitoring for transmit queue timeouts and avoiding frequent interface down/up cycles may reduce the risk.


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