Linux Kernel up to 6.1.55/6.5.5 cifs cifs_demultiplex_thread use after free

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6.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.55/6.5.5 and classified as problematic. This impacts the function cifs_demultiplex_thread of the component cifs. This manipulation causes use after free. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2023-52572. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.55/6.5.5 (Operating System). It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function cifs_demultiplex_thread of the component cifs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cifs: Fix UAF in cifs_demultiplex_thread() There is a UAF when xfstests on cifs: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in smb2_is_network_name_deleted+0x27/0x160 Read of size 4 at addr ffff88810103fc08 by task cifsd/923 CPU: 1 PID: 923 Comm: cifsd Not tainted 6.1.0-rc4+ #45 ... Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x34/0x44 print_report+0x171/0x472 kasan_report+0xad/0x130 kasan_check_range+0x145/0x1a0 smb2_is_network_name_deleted+0x27/0x160 cifs_demultiplex_thread.cold+0x172/0x5a4 kthread+0x165/0x1a0 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 </TASK> Allocated by task 923: kasan_save_stack+0x1e/0x40 kasan_set_track+0x21/0x30 __kasan_slab_alloc+0x54/0x60 kmem_cache_alloc+0x147/0x320 mempool_alloc+0xe1/0x260 cifs_small_buf_get+0x24/0x60 allocate_buffers+0xa1/0x1c0 cifs_demultiplex_thread+0x199/0x10d0 kthread+0x165/0x1a0 ret_from_fork+0x1f/0x30 Freed by task 921: kasan_save_stack+0x1e/0x40 kasan_set_track+0x21/0x30 kasan_save_free_info+0x2a/0x40 ____kasan_slab_free+0x143/0x1b0 kmem_cache_free+0xe3/0x4d0 cifs_small_buf_release+0x29/0x90 SMB2_negotiate+0x8b7/0x1c60 smb2_negotiate+0x51/0x70 cifs_negotiate_protocol+0xf0/0x160 cifs_get_smb_ses+0x5fa/0x13c0 mount_get_conns+0x7a/0x750 cifs_mount+0x103/0xd00 cifs_smb3_do_mount+0x1dd/0xcb0 smb3_get_tree+0x1d5/0x300 vfs_get_tree+0x41/0xf0 path_mount+0x9b3/0xdd0 __x64_sys_mount+0x190/0x1d0 do_syscall_64+0x35/0x80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x46/0xb0 The UAF is because: mount(pid: 921) | cifsd(pid: 923) -------------------------------|------------------------------- | cifs_demultiplex_thread SMB2_negotiate | cifs_send_recv | compound_send_recv | smb_send_rqst | wait_for_response | wait_event_state [1] | | standard_receive3 | cifs_handle_standard | handle_mid | mid->resp_buf = buf; [2] | dequeue_mid [3] KILL the process [4] | resp_iov[i].iov_base = buf | free_rsp_buf [5] | | is_network_name_deleted [6] | callback 1. After send request to server, wait the response until mid->mid_state != SUBMITTED; 2. Receive response from server, and set it to mid; 3. Set the mid state to RECEIVED; 4. Kill the process, the mid state already RECEIVED, get 0; 5. Handle and release the negotiate response; 6. UAF. It can be easily reproduce with add some delay in [3] - [6]. Only sync call has the problem since async call's callback is executed in cifsd process. Add an extra state to mark the mid state to READY before wakeup the waitter, then it can get the resp safely.

The weakness was disclosed 03/02/2024. The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-52572. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 211654 (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS : Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities (USN-7123-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.56, 6.5.6 or 6.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 908b3b5e97d2/76569e3819e0/d527f51331ca is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (211654). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.1

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 211654
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS : Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities (USN-7123-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.56/6.5.6/6.6
Patch: 908b3b5e97d2/76569e3819e0/d527f51331ca

Timelineinfo

03/02/2024 🔍
03/02/2024 +0 days 🔍
03/02/2024 +0 days 🔍
11/25/2025 +633 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-52572 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-52572
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-255517

Entryinfo

Created: 03/02/2024 23:30
Updated: 11/25/2025 18:54
Changes: 03/02/2024 23:30 (42), 04/04/2024 09:09 (15), 11/21/2024 00:59 (3), 12/11/2024 21:17 (12), 11/25/2025 18:54 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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