# CVE-2023-4394: Memory leak in btrfs_get_dev_args_from_path()

> A local attacker with special privileges can trigger a use-after-free in the btrfs filesystem, causing a system crash or leaking kernel information.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** AZL-27970, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-4394, GHSA-5w86-j94c-54q5, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-4394

## What is CVE-2023-4394?

CVE-2023-4394 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 17 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A use-after-free flaw was found in btrfs_get_dev_args_from_path in fs/btrfs/volumes.c in btrfs file-system in the Linux Kernel. This flaw allows a local attacker with special privileges to cause a system crash or leak internal kernel information

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free), CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-4394?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-4394?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-4394 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-4394 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-4394 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-4394 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 17 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-4394 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4394/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4394/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-4394
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4394
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-4394

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4394/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.