Kernel memory corruption via stale CIFS session
Published Dec 9, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Use-after-free in the CIFS client in affected Linux kernel releases allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via a malicious SMB server. smb2_reconnect_server() collects a session marked SES_EXITING from server->smb_ses_list even though concurrent teardown will release and remove that session. An existing CIFS mount to an attacker-controlled server or through an on-path attacker is required; exploitation can disclose data, hijack control flow, or crash the system.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the CIFS client in affected Linux kernel releases allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via a malicious SMB server. smb2_reconnect_server() collects a session marked SES_EXITING from server->smb_ses_list even though concurrent teardown will release and remove that session. An existing CIFS mount to an attacker-controlled server or through an on-path attacker is required; exploitation can disclose data, hijack control flow, or crash the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-53794
- Published
- Dec 9, 2025
- Updated
- Aug 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=2e4378ee60049b752c9dce16f62ce6fbd11b379a
- Affected versionversion=3.10.103 <3.11
- Affected versionversion=3.12.63 <3.13
- Affected versionversion=3.14.74 <3.15
- Affected versionversion=3.16.37 <3.17
- Affected versionversion=3.18.37 <3.19
- Affected versionversion=4.1.28 <4.2
- Affected versionversion=419fad68e4c4135ff9859e9214dd6cf954413ca1
- Affected versionversion=4.4.16 <4.5
- Affected versionversion=4.6.5 <4.7
- Affected versionversion=4.7
- Affected versionversion=4ce7aa4e44d88ce64ea8ae2337b8910f3670b0ba
- Affected versionversion=4fcd1813e6404dd4420c7d12fb483f9320f0bf93 <759ffc164d95a32c09528766d74d9b4fb054e8f4
- Affected versionversion=4fcd1813e6404dd4420c7d12fb483f9320f0bf93 <7e4f5c3f01fb0e51ca438e43262d858daf9a0a76
- Affected versionversion=4fcd1813e6404dd4420c7d12fb483f9320f0bf93 <99f280700b4cc02d5f141b8d15f8e9fad0418f65
- Affected versionversion=599fe1409085059ba12a2c3897c853be9fa9e7cf
- Affected versionversion=59b520454b323ec43b2ae757217332cea33091e0
- Affected versionversion=655e0c067f0e02ece03fd0591dabe3db2ae27552
- Affected versionversion=875cc09c0767a4ac06b57af383709657f98b3ea1
- Affected versionversion=e20c888e2b3576e5f498c167729d274ef60b86f8
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
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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