Linux Kernel up to 6.1.27/6.2.14/6.3.1 cifs hostname use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.27/6.2.14/6.3.1. This impacts the function TCP_Server_Info::hostname of the component cifs. The manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-53751. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.27/6.2.14/6.3.1. Affected is the function TCP_Server_Info::hostname of the component cifs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cifs: fix potential use-after-free bugs in TCP_Server_Info::hostname TCP_Server_Info::hostname may be updated once or many times during reconnect, so protect its access outside reconnect path as well and then prevent any potential use-after-free bugs.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2023-53751 since 12/08/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 02/23/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297065 (RHEL 8 : kernel (RHSA-2026:1512)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.28, 6.2.15 or 6.3.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 64d62ac6d6514cba1305bd08e271ec1843bdd612/c511954bf142fe1995aec3c739a9f1a76990283a/0b08c4c499200be67d54c439d56e5ea866869945/90c49fce1c43e1cc152695e20363ff5087897c09 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 databases at Tenable (297065), EUVD (EUVD-2023-60077) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2756). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• NetApp FAS
• NetApp AFF
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Microsoft Azure Linux

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1
• 6.1.2
• 6.1.3
• 6.1.4
• 6.1.5
• 6.1.6
• 6.1.7
• 6.1.8
• 6.1.9
• 6.1.10
• 6.1.11
• 6.1.12
• 6.1.13
• 6.1.14
• 6.1.15
• 6.1.16
• 6.1.17
• 6.1.18
• 6.1.19
• 6.1.20
• 6.1.21
• 6.1.22
• 6.1.23
• 6.1.24
• 6.1.25
• 6.1.26
• 6.1.27
• 6.2.0
• 6.2.1
• 6.2.2
• 6.2.3
• 6.2.4
• 6.2.5
• 6.2.6
• 6.2.7
• 6.2.8
• 6.2.9
• 6.2.10
• 6.2.11
• 6.2.12
• 6.2.13
• 6.2.14
• 6.3.0
• 6.3.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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