Remote kernel code execution via double-free cleanup
Published Nov 1, 2023 · Updated Mar 24, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel NVMe/TCP target allows remote authenticated users to execute kernel code through crafted messages. A failed initialization send frees the queue's digest objects, then release work calls nvmet_tcp_free_crypto again and dereferences and frees them twice. Exposure requires a reachable NVMe/TCP target with header or data digest enabled; successful exploitation corrupts kernel memory.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel NVMe/TCP target allows remote authenticated users to execute kernel code through crafted messages. A failed initialization send frees the queue's digest objects, then release work calls nvmet_tcp_free_crypto again and dereferences and frees them twice. Exposure requires a reachable NVMe/TCP target with header or data digest enabled; successful exploitation corrupts kernel memory.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-5178
- Published
- Nov 1, 2023
- Updated
- Mar 24, 2026
- Vendor
- Red Hat
- Product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 24, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- NVMe/TCP Syzkaller reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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