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CVE Record

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

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

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.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

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

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

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

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Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1a, 296f7bf78bc5c7a4d772aea580ce800d14040d1aunaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.27, 0, 4.14.326, 4.19.295, 5.4.257, 5.10.197, 5.15.133, 6.1.55, 6.5.5, 6.6affected
Weakness

CWE details

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