Linux Kernel up to 6.3.3 af_unix unix_release_sock state issue

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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4.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.3.3. It has been rated as critical. Affected is the function unix_release_sock of the component af_unix. The manipulation leads to state issue. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2023-54226. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.3.3. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function unix_release_sock of the component af_unix. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a state issue vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-371. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Fix data races around sk->sk_shutdown. KCSAN found a data race around sk->sk_shutdown where unix_release_sock() and unix_shutdown() update it under unix_state_lock(), OTOH unix_poll() and unix_dgram_poll() read it locklessly. We need to annotate the writes and reads with WRITE_ONCE() and READ_ONCE(). BUG: KCSAN: data-race in unix_poll / unix_release_sock write to 0xffff88800d0f8aec of 1 bytes by task 264 on cpu 0: unix_release_sock+0x75c/0x910 net/unix/af_unix.c:631 unix_release+0x59/0x80 net/unix/af_unix.c:1042 __sock_release+0x7d/0x170 net/socket.c:653 sock_close+0x19/0x30 net/socket.c:1397 __fput+0x179/0x5e0 fs/file_table.c:321 ____fput+0x15/0x20 fs/file_table.c:349 task_work_run+0x116/0x1a0 kernel/task_work.c:179 resume_user_mode_work include/linux/resume_user_mode.h:49 [inline] exit_to_user_mode_loop kernel/entry/common.c:171 [inline] exit_to_user_mode_prepare+0x174/0x180 kernel/entry/common.c:204 __syscall_exit_to_user_mode_work kernel/entry/common.c:286 [inline] syscall_exit_to_user_mode+0x1a/0x30 kernel/entry/common.c:297 do_syscall_64+0x4b/0x90 arch/x86/entry/common.c:86 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc read to 0xffff88800d0f8aec of 1 bytes by task 222 on cpu 1: unix_poll+0xa3/0x2a0 net/unix/af_unix.c:3170 sock_poll+0xcf/0x2b0 net/socket.c:1385 vfs_poll include/linux/poll.h:88 [inline] ep_item_poll.isra.0+0x78/0xc0 fs/eventpoll.c:855 ep_send_events fs/eventpoll.c:1694 [inline] ep_poll fs/eventpoll.c:1823 [inline] do_epoll_wait+0x6c4/0xea0 fs/eventpoll.c:2258 __do_sys_epoll_wait fs/eventpoll.c:2270 [inline] __se_sys_epoll_wait fs/eventpoll.c:2265 [inline] __x64_sys_epoll_wait+0xcc/0x190 fs/eventpoll.c:2265 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x3b/0x90 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc value changed: 0x00 -> 0x03 Reported by Kernel Concurrency Sanitizer on: CPU: 1 PID: 222 Comm: dbus-broker Not tainted 6.3.0-rc7-02330-gca6270c12e20 #2 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.0-0-gd239552ce722-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2023-54226 since 12/30/2025. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 04/26/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 281513 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54226), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 4.19.284, 5.4.244, 5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30 or 6.3.4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 1c488f4e95b498c977fbeae784983eb4cf6085e8/196528ad484443627779540697f4fb0ef0e01c52/8307e372e7445ec7d3cd2ff107ce5078eaa02815/a41559ae3681975f1ced815d8d4c983b6b938499/e410895892f99700ce54347d42c8dbe962eea9f4/f237f79b63c9242450e6869adcd2c10445859f28/e1d09c2c2f5793474556b60f83900e088d0d366d 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 (281513) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • IBM Power Hardware Management Console
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • IBM DataPower Gateway

Productinfo

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Vendor

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Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

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

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: State issue
CWE: CWE-371
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 281513
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-54226

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 4.19.284/5.4.244/5.10.181/5.15.113/6.1.30/6.3.4
Patch: 1c488f4e95b498c977fbeae784983eb4cf6085e8/196528ad484443627779540697f4fb0ef0e01c52/8307e372e7445ec7d3cd2ff107ce5078eaa02815/a41559ae3681975f1ced815d8d4c983b6b938499/e410895892f99700ce54347d42c8dbe962eea9f4/f237f79b63c9242450e6869adcd2c10445859f28/e1d09c2c2f5793474556b60f83900e088d0d366d

Timelineinfo

12/30/2025 Advisory disclosed
12/30/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
12/30/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/26/2026 +117 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2023-54226 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2023-54226
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-338975
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-2941 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Denial of Service

Entryinfo

Created: 12/30/2025 16:49
Updated: 04/26/2026 18:28
Changes: 12/30/2025 16:49 (59), 12/31/2025 21:33 (2), 01/01/2026 09:25 (7), 04/26/2026 18:28 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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