CVE-2023-54280Network attack vector

Memory disclosure or crash via CIFS hostname race

Published Dec 30, 2025 · Updated Dec 30, 2025

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows remote attackers to disclose kernel heap data or crash an affected host. __tree_connect_dfs_target() builds the IPC tree name from TCP_Server_Info::hostname without holding the lock while cifsd can free that buffer during DFS reconnection. An already-mounted DFS share and a malicious or compromised SMB/DFS server, or an on-path attacker forcing reconnects, can expose heap bytes in TREE_CONNECT requests or repeatedly trigger a kernel panic.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel CIFS client allows remote attackers to disclose kernel heap data or crash an affected host. __tree_connect_dfs_target() builds the IPC tree name from TCP_Server_Info::hostname without holding the lock while cifsd can free that buffer during DFS reconnection. An already-mounted DFS share and a malicious or compromised SMB/DFS server, or an on-path attacker forcing reconnects, can expose heap bytes in TREE_CONNECT requests or repeatedly trigger a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-54280
Published
Dec 30, 2025
Updated
Dec 30, 2025
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 30, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <536ec71ba060a02fabe8e22cecb82fe7b3a8708b
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <553476df55a111e6a66ad9155256aec0ec1b7ad0
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ee20d7c6100752eaf2409d783f4f1449c29ea33d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <536ec71ba060a02fabe8e22cecb82fe7b3a8708b; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <553476df55a111e6a66ad9155256aec0ec1b7ad0; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ee20d7c6100752eaf2409d783f4f1449c29ea33d

Published CVSS scores

9.8LinuxCVSS: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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo