CVE-2023-54280 cifs: fix potential race when tree connecting ipc
A race condition in the Linux kernel CIFS module allows a use-after-free, potentially leading to code execution or 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-2023-54280?
CVE-2023-54280 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 30 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 race when tree connecting ipc
Protect access of TCP_Server_Info::hostname when building the ipc tree name as it might get freed in cifsd thread and thus causing an use-after-free bug in __tree_connect_dfs_target(). Also, while at it, update status of IPC tcon on success and then avoid any extra tree connects.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54280?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54280?
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-2023-54280 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54280 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54280, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54280, GHSA-2c5w-8p3h-w8f6, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2023-54280, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2023-54280, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54280.