Linux Kernel up to 6.1.162/6.6.123/6.12.69/6.18.9 smb2_open_file memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
5.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.162/6.6.123/6.12.69/6.18.9. This affects the function smb2_open_file. Executing a manipulation can lead to memory leak. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-23205. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.162/6.6.123/6.12.69/6.18.9 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function smb2_open_file. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb/client: fix memory leak in smb2_open_file() Reproducer: 1. server: directories are exported read-only 2. client: mount -t cifs //${server_ip}/export /mnt 3. client: dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/file bs=512 count=1000 oflag=direct 4. client: umount /mnt 5. client: sleep 1 6. client: modprobe -r cifs The error message is as follows: ============================================================================= BUG cifs_small_rq (Not tainted): Objects remaining on __kmem_cache_shutdown() ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Object 0x00000000d47521be @offset=14336 ... WARNING: mm/slub.c:1251 at __kmem_cache_shutdown+0x34e/0x440, CPU#0: modprobe/1577 ... Call Trace: <TASK> kmem_cache_destroy+0x94/0x190 cifs_destroy_request_bufs+0x3e/0x50 [cifs] cleanup_module+0x4e/0x540 [cifs] __se_sys_delete_module+0x278/0x400 __x64_sys_delete_module+0x5f/0x70 x64_sys_call+0x2299/0x2ff0 do_syscall_64+0x89/0x350 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e ... kmem_cache_destroy cifs_small_rq: Slab cache still has objects when called from cifs_destroy_request_bufs+0x3e/0x50 [cifs] WARNING: mm/slab_common.c:532 at kmem_cache_destroy+0x16b/0x190, CPU#0: modprobe/1577

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-23205 since 01/13/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 299109 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23205), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.163, 6.6.124, 6.12.70 or 6.18.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 743f70406264348c0830f38409eb6c40a42fb2db/3a6d6b332f92990958602c1e35ce0173e2dd62e9/b64e3b5d8d759dd4333992e4ba4dadf9359952c8/9ee608a64e37cea5b4b13e436c559dd0fb2ad1b5/e3a43633023e3cacaca60d4b8972d084a2b06236 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 (299109), EUVD (EUVD-2026-5840) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0421). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 299109
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23205

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.163/6.6.124/6.12.70/6.18.10
Patch: 743f70406264348c0830f38409eb6c40a42fb2db/3a6d6b332f92990958602c1e35ce0173e2dd62e9/b64e3b5d8d759dd4333992e4ba4dadf9359952c8/9ee608a64e37cea5b4b13e436c559dd0fb2ad1b5/e3a43633023e3cacaca60d4b8972d084a2b06236

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
02/14/2026 +32 days Advisory disclosed
02/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/24/2026 +99 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23205 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23205
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-346090
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0421 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 02/14/2026 19:05
Updated: 05/24/2026 22:12
Changes: 02/14/2026 19:05 (58), 02/14/2026 19:43 (1), 02/15/2026 12:12 (2), 02/19/2026 14:44 (1), 03/19/2026 07:23 (11), 05/06/2026 04:07 (7), 05/24/2026 22:12 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Do you want to use VulDB in your project?

Use the official API to access entries easily!