CVE-2023-54038 Details
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_conn: return ERR_PTR instead of NULL when there is no link hci_connect_sco currently returns NULL when there is no link (i.e. when hci_conn_link() returns NULL). sco_connect() expects an ERR_PTR in case of any error (see line 266 in sco.c). Thus, hcon set as NULL passes through to sco_conn_add(), which tries to get hcon->hdev, resulting in dereferencing a NULL pointer as reported by syzkaller. The same issue exists for iso_connect_cis() calling hci_connect_cis(). Thus, make hci_connect_sco() and hci_connect_cis() return ERR_PTR instead of NULL.
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth subsystem can lead to a NULL pointer dereference. The issue arises in the 'hci_connect_sco' and 'hci_connect_cis' functions, which currently return NULL when there is no link available. This behavior allows a NULL value to be passed to subsequent functions, where it is dereferenced, causing a crash. The vulnerability has been reported by syzkaller.
The vulnerability has been fixed in the Linux kernel. Users should upgrade to the latest version.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
Volerion
Assessed Dec 24, 2025References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/357ab53c83a5322437fa434e9a9e3e0bafe6b383 | kernel.org | Source CodeVendor |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4066eb04bb67e7ff66e5aaab0db4a753f37eaad | kernel.org | Source CodeVendor |
Weakness Enumeration
No weakness enumeration is available for this CVE.
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Linux kernel | All versions |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
2 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Dec 24, 2025 | New CVE Received | kernel.org |
Volerion