CVE-2023-53377

Kernel memory corruption via premature cfile release

Published Sep 18, 2025 · Updated Sep 18, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent operations on an SMB share. In smb2_compound_op, cifsFileInfo_put releases cfile before QUERY_INFO paths read cfile->symlink_target, leaving a dangling reference. Access to an existing CIFS mount is required; the dangling access permits kernel memory disclosure or corruption and a host panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
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 corrupt kernel memory through concurrent operations on an SMB share. In smb2_compound_op, cifsFileInfo_put releases cfile before QUERY_INFO paths read cfile->symlink_target, leaving a dangling reference. Access to an existing CIFS mount is required; the dangling access permits kernel memory disclosure or corruption and a host panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53377
Published
Sep 18, 2025
Updated
Sep 18, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 18, 2025Record 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=2d046892a493d9760c35fdaefc3017f27f91b621
  2. Affected versionversion=6.1
  3. Affected versionversion=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <33f736187d08f6bc822117629f263b97d3df4165
  4. Affected versionversion=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <4fe07d55a5461e66a55fbefb57f85ff0facea32b
  5. Affected versionversion=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <b6353518ef8180816e863aa23b06456f395404d6
  6. Affected versionversion=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <d017880782cf71f8820ee4a2002843893176501d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2d046892a493d9760c35fdaefc3017f27f91b621; version=6.1; version=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <33f736187d08f6bc822117629f263b97d3df4165; version=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <4fe07d55a5461e66a55fbefb57f85ff0facea32b; version=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <b6353518ef8180816e863aa23b06456f395404d6; version=76894f3e2f71177747b8b4763fb180e800279585 <d017880782cf71f8820ee4a2002843893176501d

Published CVSS scores

7.8LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA ADPCVSS: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.

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

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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