CVE-2023-54038
published 2025-12-24CVE-2023-54038: 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…
PriorityP418medium5.5
EPSS
0.16%
5.8th percentile
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.
Affected
9 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| debian | linux | < linux 6.4.11-1 (forky) | linux 6.4.11-1 (forky) |
| linux | linux | — | — |
| linux | linux | — | — |
| linux | linux | >= 06149746e7203d5ffe2d6faf9799ee36203aa8b8 < 357ab53c83a5322437fa434e9a9e3e0bafe6b383 | 357ab53c83a5322437fa434e9a9e3e0bafe6b383 |
| linux | linux | >= 06149746e7203d5ffe2d6faf9799ee36203aa8b8 < b4066eb04bb67e7ff66e5aaab0db4a753f37eaad | b4066eb04bb67e7ff66e5aaab0db4a753f37eaad |
| linux | linux | >= 6.3.8 < 6.4 | 6.4 |
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 0 < 6.4.11-1 | 6.4.11-1 |
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 0 < 6.4.11-1 | 6.4.11-1 |
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 6.4.0 < 6.4.7 | 6.4.7 |
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OSV
Bluetooth: hci_conn: return ERR_PTR instead of NULL when there is no link
osv·2025-12-24
CVE-2023-54038 Bluetooth: hci_conn: return ERR_PTR instead of NULL when there is no link
Bluetooth: hci_conn: return ERR_PTR instead of NULL when there is no link
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.
OSV
CVE-2023-54038: 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_conn
osv·2025-12-24
CVE-2023-54038 CVE-2023-54038: 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_conn
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.
GHSA
GHSA-j568-pqpx-g2wf: 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_co
ghsa_unreviewed·2025-12-24
CVE-2023-54038 GHSA-j568-pqpx-g2wf: 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_co
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.
Red Hat
kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service in Bluetooth HCI connection handling
vendor_redhat·2025-12-24·CVSS 5.5
CVE-2023-54038 [MEDIUM] CWE-476 kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service in Bluetooth HCI connection handling
kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service in Bluetooth HCI connection handling
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 flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth Host Controller Interface (HCI) connec
Debian
CVE-2023-54038: linux - In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: ...
vendor_debian·2023
CVE-2023-54038 [LOW] CVE-2023-54038: linux - In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: ...
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.
Scope: local
bookworm: resolved
bullseye: resolved
forky: resolved (fixed in 6.4.11-1)
sid: resolved (fixed in 6.4.11-1)
trixie: resolved (fixed in 6.4.11-1)
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
Wiz
CVE-2023-54038 Impact, Exploitability, and Mitigation Steps | Wiz
blogs_wiz
CVE-2023-54038 CVE-2023-54038 Impact, Exploitability, and Mitigation Steps | Wiz
## CVE-2023-54038 :
Linux Kernel vulnerability analysis and mitigation
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.
Source : NVD
Published December 24, 2025
CNA Score N/A
Affected Technologies
Linux
Bugzilla
CVE-2023-54038 kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service in Bluetooth HCI connection handling
bugzilla·2025-12-24
CVE-2023-54038 [MEDIUM] CVE-2023-54038 kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service in Bluetooth HCI connection handling
CVE-2023-54038 kernel: Linux kernel: Denial of Service in Bluetooth HCI connection handling
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.
Discussion:
Upstream advisory:
https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-a
2025-12-24
Published