CVE-2023-52803

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: SUNRPC: Fix RPC client cleaned up the freed pipefs dentries RPC client pipefs dentries cleanup is in separated rpc_remove_pipedir() workqueue,which takes care about pipefs superblock locking. In some special scenarios, when kernel frees the pipefs sb of the current client and immediately alloctes a new pipefs sb, rpc_remove_pipedir function would misjudge the existence of pipefs sb which is not the one it used to hold. As a result, the rpc_remove_pipedir would clean the released freed pipefs dentries. To fix this issue, rpc_remove_pipedir should check whether the current pipefs sb is consistent with the original pipefs sb. This error can be catched by KASAN: ========================================================= [ 250.497700] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in dget_parent+0x195/0x200 [ 250.498315] Read of size 4 at addr ffff88800a2ab804 by task kworker/0:18/106503 [ 250.500549] Workqueue: events rpc_free_client_work [ 250.501001] Call Trace: [ 250.502880] kasan_report+0xb6/0xf0 [ 250.503209] ? dget_parent+0x195/0x200 [ 250.503561] dget_parent+0x195/0x200 [ 250.503897] ? __pfx_rpc_clntdir_depopulate+0x10/0x10 [ 250.504384] rpc_rmdir_depopulate+0x1b/0x90 [ 250.504781] rpc_remove_client_dir+0xf5/0x150 [ 250.505195] rpc_free_client_work+0xe4/0x230 [ 250.505598] process_one_work+0x8ee/0x13b0 ... [ 22.039056] Allocated by task 244: [ 22.039390] kasan_save_stack+0x22/0x50 [ 22.039758] kasan_set_track+0x25/0x30 [ 22.040109] __kasan_slab_alloc+0x59/0x70 [ 22.040487] kmem_cache_alloc_lru+0xf0/0x240 [ 22.040889] __d_alloc+0x31/0x8e0 [ 22.041207] d_alloc+0x44/0x1f0 [ 22.041514] __rpc_lookup_create_exclusive+0x11c/0x140 [ 22.041987] rpc_mkdir_populate.constprop.0+0x5f/0x110 [ 22.042459] rpc_create_client_dir+0x34/0x150 [ 22.042874] rpc_setup_pipedir_sb+0x102/0x1c0 [ 22.043284] rpc_client_register+0x136/0x4e0 [ 22.043689] rpc_new_client+0x911/0x1020 [ 22.044057] rpc_create_xprt+0xcb/0x370 [ 22.044417] rpc_create+0x36b/0x6c0 ... [ 22.049524] Freed by task 0: [ 22.049803] kasan_save_stack+0x22/0x50 [ 22.050165] kasan_set_track+0x25/0x30 [ 22.050520] kasan_save_free_info+0x2b/0x50 [ 22.050921] __kasan_slab_free+0x10e/0x1a0 [ 22.051306] kmem_cache_free+0xa5/0x390 [ 22.051667] rcu_core+0x62c/0x1930 [ 22.051995] __do_softirq+0x165/0x52a [ 22.052347] [ 22.052503] Last potentially related work creation: [ 22.052952] kasan_save_stack+0x22/0x50 [ 22.053313] __kasan_record_aux_stack+0x8e/0xa0 [ 22.053739] __call_rcu_common.constprop.0+0x6b/0x8b0 [ 22.054209] dentry_free+0xb2/0x140 [ 22.054540] __dentry_kill+0x3be/0x540 [ 22.054900] shrink_dentry_list+0x199/0x510 [ 22.055293] shrink_dcache_parent+0x190/0x240 [ 22.055703] do_one_tree+0x11/0x40 [ 22.056028] shrink_dcache_for_umount+0x61/0x140 [ 22.056461] generic_shutdown_super+0x70/0x590 [ 22.056879] kill_anon_super+0x3a/0x60 [ 22.057234] rpc_kill_sb+0x121/0x200

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2024-05-21 16:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 06:43 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.5 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2024-05-21 16:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 06:43 UTC

Exploit probability

0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-416 · Use after free

Record status

Analyzed

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 4.19.318
• Linux Kernel < 5.4.280
• Linux Kernel < 5.10.202
• Linux Kernel < 5.15.140
• Linux Kernel < 6.1.64
• Linux Kernel < 6.5.13
• Linux Kernel < 6.6.3

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 5.5

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

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Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2023-52803.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2023-52803. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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