CVE-2023-52572

Kernel compromise via CIFS response-buffer race

Published Mar 2, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows local users to crash the kernel or gain elevated privileges through a response race. During synchronous SMB negotiation, cifs_demultiplex_thread marks a MID response received and wakes a waiting task before is_network_name_deleted finishes reading its response buffer; a killed waiter can therefore free that buffer while the demultiplex thread still uses it. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access to an already mounted CIFS share and a timed signal to the waiting process; consequences are bounded to the host kernel.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows local users to crash the kernel or gain elevated privileges through a response race. During synchronous SMB negotiation, cifs_demultiplex_thread marks a MID response received and wakes a waiting task before is_network_name_deleted finishes reading its response buffer; a killed waiter can therefore free that buffer while the demultiplex thread still uses it. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access to an already mounted CIFS share and a timed signal to the waiting process; consequences are bounded to the host kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52572
Published
Mar 2, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 2, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <76569e3819e0bb59fc19b1b8688b017e627c268a
  3. Affected versionversion=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <908b3b5e97d25e879de3d1f172a255665491c2c3
  4. Affected versionversion=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <99960d282fba6634fa758df4124cb73ef8a77d8a
  5. Affected versionversion=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <d527f51331cace562393a8038d870b3e9916686f
  6. Affected versionversion=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <ed3b36f351d97dacb62cd0f399e8cf79f73bd30a
  7. Affected versionversion=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <fe87e2d0e6265859c659a3ef1e2559a83c5e8e68

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.16; version=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <76569e3819e0bb59fc19b1b8688b017e627c268a; version=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <908b3b5e97d25e879de3d1f172a255665491c2c3; version=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <99960d282fba6634fa758df4124cb73ef8a77d8a; version=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <d527f51331cace562393a8038d870b3e9916686f; version=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <ed3b36f351d97dacb62cd0f399e8cf79f73bd30a; version=ec637e3ffb6b978143652477c7c5f96c9519b691 <fe87e2d0e6265859c659a3ef1e2559a83c5e8e68

Published CVSS scores

7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

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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

CWE-416Use After Free
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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