CVE-2023-52752·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb: client: fix use-after-free bug in cifs_debug_data_proc_show() Skip SMB sessions that are being teared down (e.g. @ses->ses_status == SES_EXITING) in cifs_debug_data_proc_show() to avoid use-after-free in @ses. This fixes the following GPF when reading from /proc/fs/cifs/DebugData while mounting and umounting [ 816.251274] general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0x6b6b6b6b6b6b6d81: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI ... [ 816.260138] Call Trace: [ 816.260329] <TASK> [ 816.260499] ? die_addr+0x36/0x90 [ 816.260762] ? exc_general_protection+0x1b3/0x410 [ 816.261126] ? asm_exc_general_protection+0x26/0x30 [ 816.261502] ? cifs_debug_tcon+0xbd/0x240 [cifs] [ 816.261878] ? cifs_debug_tcon+0xab/0x240 [cifs] [ 816.262249] cifs_debug_data_proc_show+0x516/0xdb0 [cifs] [ 816.262689] ? seq_read_iter+0x379/0x470 [ 816.262995] seq_read_iter+0x118/0x470 [ 816.263291] proc_reg_read_iter+0x53/0x90 [ 816.263596] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0x7f [ 816.263945] vfs_read+0x201/0x350 [ 816.264211] ksys_read+0x75/0x100 [ 816.264472] do_syscall_64+0x3f/0x90 [ 816.264750] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6e/0xd8 [ 816.265135] RIP: 0033:0x7fd5e669d381
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.6.3
- Published
- 2024-05-21
Affected versions
From: 6.6
Until: 6.6.3
Fixed in: 6.6.3
How to fix this CVE
Update the Linux kernel to version 6.6.3 or later to resolve a use-after-free vulnerability in the CIFS debugging interface. This vulnerability can cause kernel crashes when reading /proc/fs/cifs/DebugData during concurrent SMB mount/unmount operations. Apply the security patch immediately to prevent potential denial of service or privilege escalation on systems using CIFS/SMB mounts.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r — verify if version is between 6.6.0 and 6.6.2
- Confirm CIFS module is loaded: lsmod | grep cifs — if present, the vulnerable code path is active
- Monitor for crashes during CIFS operations: dmesg | grep -i 'general protection fault' — look for GPF entries correlated with /proc/fs/cifs/DebugData access
- Verify patch installation: uname -r should show 6.6.3 or later after kernel update and reboot
FAQ
What is CVE-2023-52752?
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's CIFS client debugging code that occurs when SMB sessions are torn down while the /proc/fs/cifs/DebugData file is being read, leading to kernel crashes with general protection faults.
Is CVE-2023-52752 being actively exploited?
No, this vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are available, though it can be triggered locally by unprivileged users reading the debug interface.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2023-52752?
Linux kernel versions 6.6.0 through 6.6.2 are vulnerable; kernel 6.6.3 and later contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2023-52752?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version. If it reports 6.6.0, 6.6.1, or 6.6.2, your system is vulnerable. Additionally, verify CIFS is in use with 'lsmod | grep cifs'.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2023-52752?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2023-52752 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ab6f842452ce2cae04209d4671ac6289d0aef8a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2abdf136784b7edaec7ffe0f4b461b63f9c4c4de
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/336a066990bb3962c46daf574ace596bda9303ce
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/558817597d5fbd7af31f891b67b0fd20f0d047b7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/89929ea46f9cc11ba66d2c64713aa5d5dc723b09
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