CVE-2023-54134: autofs: fix memory leak of waitqueues in autofs_catatonic_mode
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
autofs: fix memory leak of waitqueues in autofs_catatonic_mode
Syzkaller reports a memory leak:
BUG: memory leak
unreferenced object 0xffff88810b279e00 (size 96):
comm "syz-executor399", pid 3631, jiffies 4294964921 (age 23.870s)
hex dump (first 32 bytes):
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 9e 27 0b 81 88 ff ff ..........'.....
08 9e 27 0b 81 88 ff ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..'.............
backtrace:
[<ffffffff814cfc90>] kmalloc_trace+0x20/0x90 mm/slab_common.c:1046
[<ffffffff81bb75ca>] kmalloc include/linux/slab.h:576 [inline]
[<ffffffff81bb75ca>] autofs_wait+0x3fa/0x9a0 fs/autofs/waitq.c:378
[<ffffffff81bb88a7>] autofs_do_expire_multi+0xa7/0x3e0 fs/autofs/expire.c:593
[<ffffffff81bb8c33>] autofs_expire_multi+0x53/0x80 fs/autofs/expire.c:619
[<ffffffff81bb6972>] autofs_root_ioctl_unlocked+0x322/0x3b0 fs/autofs/root.c:897
[<ffffffff81bb6a95>] autofs_root_ioctl+0x25/0x30 fs/autofs/root.c:910
[<ffffffff81602a9c>] vfs_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:51 [inline]
[<ffffffff81602a9c>] __do_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:870 [inline]
[<ffffffff81602a9c>] __se_sys_ioctl fs/ioctl.c:856 [inline]
[<ffffffff81602a9c>] __x64_sys_ioctl+0xfc/0x140 fs/ioctl.c:856
[<ffffffff84608225>] do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline]
[<ffffffff84608225>] do_syscall_64+0x35/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80
[<ffffffff84800087>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd
autofs_wait_queue structs should be freed if their wait_ctr becomes zero.
Otherwise they will be lost.
In this case an AUTOFS_IOC_EXPIRE_MULTI ioctl is done, then a new
waitqueue struct is allocated in autofs_wait(), its initial wait_ctr
equals 2. After that wait_event_killable() is interrupted (it returns
-ERESTARTSYS), so that 'wq->name.name == NULL' condition may be not
satisfied. Actually, this condition can be satisfied when
autofs_wait_release() or autofs_catatonic_mode() is called and, what is
also important, wait_ctr is decremented in those places. Upon the exit of
autofs_wait(), wait_ctr is decremented to 1. Then the unmounting process
begins: kill_sb calls autofs_catatonic_mode(), which should have freed the
waitqueues, but it only decrements its usage counter to zero which is not
a correct behaviour.
edit:imk
This description is of course not correct. The umount performed as a result
of an expire is a umount of a mount that has been automounted, it's not the
autofs mount itself. They happen independently, usually after everything
mounted within the autofs file system has been expired away. If everything
hasn't been expired away the automount daemon can still exit leaving mounts
in place. But expires done in both cases will result in a notification that
calls autofs_wait_release() with a result status. The problem case is the
summary execution of of the automount daemon. In this case any waiting
processes won't be woken up until either they are terminated or the mount
is umounted.
end edit: imk
So in catatonic mode we should free waitqueues which counter becomes zero.
edit: imk
Initially I was concerned that the calling of autofs_wait_release() and
autofs_catatonic_mode() was not mutually exclusive but that can't be the
case (obviously) because the queue entry (or entries) is removed from the
list when either of these two functions are called. Consequently the wait
entry will be freed by only one of these functions or by the woken process
in autofs_wait() depending on the order of the calls.
end edit: imk
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Linux kernel autofs memory-leak bug. Under specific autofs waitqueue handling, kernel memory may not be freed correctly. The source describes a leak found by Syzkaller, not data theft or privilege escalation. Business urgency depends on whether affected Linux kernels run autofs or automount workloads.
Executive priority
Handle through normal kernel patch management, with earlier scheduling for infrastructure that depends on autofs. The available evidence supports reliability risk, not confirmed breach risk or active exploitation.
Technical view
The flaw is in autofs_catatonic_mode waitqueue cleanup. autofs_wait_queue objects whose wait_ctr reaches zero were decremented but not freed, leaving kernel allocations unreachable. The reported path involves AUTOFS_IOC_EXPIRE_MULTI, interrupted waits, and catatonic-mode cleanup behavior.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions with autofs functionality enabled or in use. The bundle lists Linux as affected and references stable kernel fixes, but does not identify specific distributions or configurations beyond autofs.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is stated. KEV is false, no CVSS is provided, and the cited bundle describes Syzkaller discovery of a memory leak. Treat this primarily as a reliability and potential local denial-of-service concern unless vendor advisories add stronger impact details.
Researcher notes
The source description includes an editorial correction clarifying the problematic case around automount daemon exit and waiting processes. Impact evidence is limited to a kernel memory leak; affected ranges should be confirmed through downstream vendor advisories.
Mitigation direction
Update to a vendor kernel containing the referenced autofs waitqueue cleanup fix.
Prioritize systems using autofs, automount, or heavy mount-expire workflows.
Follow distribution vendor advisories for backported fixed kernel package names.
If patching is delayed, reduce unnecessary autofs exposure where operationally safe.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions against vendor fixed-kernel advisories.
Confirm whether autofs is enabled, loaded, or required on affected hosts.
Verify installed kernels include the referenced autofs_catatonic_mode fix.
Review kernel memory-pressure alerts on systems using automount workflows.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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The CVE record was published.
Dec 24, 2025, 13:06 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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