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CVE Record

CVE-2023-53606: nfsd: clean up potential nfsd_file refcount leaks in COPY codepath

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: clean up potential nfsd_file refcount leaks in COPY codepath There are two different flavors of the nfsd4_copy struct. One is embedded in the compound and is used directly in synchronous copies. The other is dynamically allocated, refcounted and tracked in the client struture. For the embedded one, the cleanup just involves releasing any nfsd_files held on its behalf. For the async one, the cleanup is a bit more involved, and we need to dequeue it from lists, unhash it, etc. There is at least one potential refcount leak in this code now. If the kthread_create call fails, then both the src and dst nfsd_files in the original nfsd4_copy object are leaked. The cleanup in this codepath is also sort of weird. In the async copy case, we'll have up to four nfsd_file references (src and dst for both flavors of copy structure). They are both put at the end of nfsd4_do_async_copy, even though the ones held on behalf of the embedded one outlive that structure. Change it so that we always clean up the nfsd_file refs held by the embedded copy structure before nfsd4_copy returns. Rework cleanup_async_copy to handle both inter and intra copies. Eliminate nfsd4_cleanup_intra_ssc since it now becomes a no-op.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux NFS server cleanup flaw can leave file references unreleased when COPY processing encounters a kernel-thread creation failure. Accumulated leaks could exhaust resources and disrupt service or system availability. The supplied assessment indicates no confidentiality or integrity impact.

Executive priority

Prioritize prompt remediation on internet-facing, broadly reachable, or business-critical NFS servers. Treat this as an availability risk rather than evidence of data theft or modification. An emergency incident response is not supported solely by the supplied evidence because active exploitation is unconfirmed.

Technical view

The nfsd COPY path handles embedded synchronous and dynamically allocated asynchronous copy structures differently. On kthread_create failure, source and destination nfsd_file references could leak. The referenced kernel changes reorganize cleanup so embedded references are released before nfsd4_copy returns and asynchronous inter- and intra-server copies share appropriate cleanup.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is limited to systems running affected Linux kernels with the NFS server and relevant COPY functionality active. Risk increases when NFS is network-reachable. The supplied version data does not clearly define every affected release or distribution backport, so confirm status with the applicable kernel vendor.

Exploitation context

The CVSS data describes a network-accessible, low-complexity, unauthenticated availability issue requiring no user interaction. However, the supplied sources do not confirm active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. They also do not establish how reliably an external client can induce the necessary thread-creation failure.

Researcher notes

The central defect is reference leakage during COPY cleanup, specifically when kernel-thread creation fails. CVSS assigns 7.5 with availability-only impact. Exact affected-version boundaries are ambiguous in the supplied structured list, and no CWE is provided. Validate branch-specific fixes through the referenced stable commits and vendor backport records without assuming upstream version equivalence.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix or distribution backport.
  • Confirm backport status with the Linux distribution or appliance vendor before judging exposure by version alone.
  • If upgrading is delayed, consult vendor guidance for supported temporary risk-reduction measures.
  • Disable unused NFS service and restrict necessary NFS access according to existing network security policy.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions on every system providing NFS services.
  • Determine whether nfsd and NFS COPY functionality are active and network-reachable.
  • Verify the running kernel contains the applicable stable fix or documented vendor equivalent.
  • Review system health and NFS logs for resource exhaustion or service instability; absence does not prove safety.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2023-53606 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2023-53606Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxe0639dc5805a9d4faaa2c07ad98fa853b9529dd3, e0639dc5805a9d4faaa2c07ad98fa853b9529dd3, e0639dc5805a9d4faaa2c07ad98fa853b9529dd3, e0639dc5805a9d4faaa2c07ad98fa853b9529dd3, e0639dc5805a9d4faaa2c07ad98fa853b9529dd3unaffected
LinuxLinux4.20, 0, 5.10.220, 5.15.154, 6.1.16, 6.2.3, 6.3affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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