CVE-2023-53751 cifs: fix potential use-after-free bugs in TCP_Server_Info::hostname
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel CIFS module allows attackers to potentially execute code or cause a denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-53751?
CVE-2023-53751 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 8 Dec 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
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.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-53751?
How do I fix CVE-2023-53751?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2023-53751 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-53751 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-53751, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53751, GHSA-7gp2-6wc7-fw9f, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2023-53751, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2023-53751, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53751.