CVE-2023-53751Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via CIFS hostname race

Published Dec 8, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux CIFS client allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory through malicious DFS referral responses. During reconnect, unprotected readers dereference TCP_Server_Info::hostname while DFS referral handling can free and replace that pointer. An established DFS CIFS mount lets a malicious SMB peer repeatedly force reconnects, exposing kernel data, corrupting memory, or causing a kernel panic.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.41%
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 CIFS client allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory through malicious DFS referral responses. During reconnect, unprotected readers dereference TCP_Server_Info::hostname while DFS referral handling can free and replace that pointer. An established DFS CIFS mount lets a malicious SMB peer repeatedly force reconnects, exposing kernel data, corrupting memory, or causing a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-53751
Published
Dec 8, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 2025CVE 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=5.0
  2. Affected versionversion=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <0b08c4c499200be67d54c439d56e5ea866869945
  3. Affected versionversion=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <64d62ac6d6514cba1305bd08e271ec1843bdd612
  4. Affected versionversion=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <90c49fce1c43e1cc152695e20363ff5087897c09
  5. Affected versionversion=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <c511954bf142fe1995aec3c739a9f1a76990283a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.0; version=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <0b08c4c499200be67d54c439d56e5ea866869945; version=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <64d62ac6d6514cba1305bd08e271ec1843bdd612; version=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <90c49fce1c43e1cc152695e20363ff5087897c09; version=93d5cb517db39e8af8d1292f9e785e4983b7f708 <c511954bf142fe1995aec3c739a9f1a76990283a

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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