CVE-2023-32246

Kernel code execution via module-unload race

Published Aug 16, 2025 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Race condition in ksmbd in the Linux kernel allows local users to execute unintended kernel code by racing connection closure with module unload. ksmbd_server_exit() omits rcu_barrier(), allowing pending connection-related RCU callbacks to execute after the module code is unloaded. The race requires low-privileged local access and concurrent module removal; successful exploitation defeats Kernel Lockdown protections.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in ksmbd in the Linux kernel allows local users to execute unintended kernel code by racing connection closure with module unload. ksmbd_server_exit() omits rcu_barrier(), allowing pending connection-related RCU callbacks to execute after the module code is unloaded. The race requires low-privileged local access and concurrent module removal; successful exploitation defeats Kernel Lockdown protections.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32246
Published
Aug 16, 2025
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <5a7090ccc242ab009ee7769e9d7fad6644dbe9bd
  3. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <b80422474ffe44cb5e813cd6da1f1c6bc50fd9d2
  4. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <c053e389db0d892e2ff5a60ec5e533b976503795
  5. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <d4174505016a3b2996eb7ff1530dcabbf15d47b6
  6. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <eb307d09fe15844fdaebeb8cc8c9b9e925430aa5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.15; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <5a7090ccc242ab009ee7769e9d7fad6644dbe9bd; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <b80422474ffe44cb5e813cd6da1f1c6bc50fd9d2; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <c053e389db0d892e2ff5a60ec5e533b976503795; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <d4174505016a3b2996eb7ff1530dcabbf15d47b6; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <eb307d09fe15844fdaebeb8cc8c9b9e925430aa5

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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