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CVE Record

CVE-2023-54226: af_unix: Fix data races around sk->sk_shutdown.

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Fix data races around sk->sk_shutdown. KCSAN found a data race around sk->sk_shutdown where unix_release_sock() and unix_shutdown() update it under unix_state_lock(), OTOH unix_poll() and unix_dgram_poll() read it locklessly. We need to annotate the writes and reads with WRITE_ONCE() and READ_ONCE(). BUG: KCSAN: data-race in unix_poll / unix_release_sock write to 0xffff88800d0f8aec of 1 bytes by task 264 on cpu 0: unix_release_sock+0x75c/0x910 net/unix/af_unix.c:631 unix_release+0x59/0x80 net/unix/af_unix.c:1042 __sock_release+0x7d/0x170 net/socket.c:653 sock_close+0x19/0x30 net/socket.c:1397 __fput+0x179/0x5e0 fs/file_table.c:321 ____fput+0x15/0x20 fs/file_table.c:349 task_work_run+0x116/0x1a0 kernel/task_work.c:179 resume_user_mode_work include/linux/resume_user_mode.h:49 [inline] exit_to_user_mode_loop kernel/entry/common.c:171 [inline] exit_to_user_mode_prepare+0x174/0x180 kernel/entry/common.c:204 __syscall_exit_to_user_mode_work kernel/entry/common.c:286 [inline] syscall_exit_to_user_mode+0x1a/0x30 kernel/entry/common.c:297 do_syscall_64+0x4b/0x90 arch/x86/entry/common.c:86 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc read to 0xffff88800d0f8aec of 1 bytes by task 222 on cpu 1: unix_poll+0xa3/0x2a0 net/unix/af_unix.c:3170 sock_poll+0xcf/0x2b0 net/socket.c:1385 vfs_poll include/linux/poll.h:88 [inline] ep_item_poll.isra.0+0x78/0xc0 fs/eventpoll.c:855 ep_send_events fs/eventpoll.c:1694 [inline] ep_poll fs/eventpoll.c:1823 [inline] do_epoll_wait+0x6c4/0xea0 fs/eventpoll.c:2258 __do_sys_epoll_wait fs/eventpoll.c:2270 [inline] __se_sys_epoll_wait fs/eventpoll.c:2265 [inline] __x64_sys_epoll_wait+0xcc/0x190 fs/eventpoll.c:2265 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x3b/0x90 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x72/0xdc value changed: 0x00 -> 0x03 Reported by Kernel Concurrency Sanitizer on: CPU: 1 PID: 222 Comm: dbus-broker Not tainted 6.3.0-rc7-02330-gca6270c12e20 #2 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS rel-1.16.0-0-gd239552ce722-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel concurrency bug in Unix domain socket handling. A kernel race detector found unsynchronized reads and writes of a socket shutdown flag. The provided sources do not describe a proven security impact, CVSS score, or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel hygiene item with unclear business urgency. There is no active exploitation evidence in the supplied sources, but kernel race fixes should still be absorbed through standard patch management.

Technical view

The race is around sk->sk_shutdown in af_unix. unix_release_sock() and unix_shutdown() write it under unix_state_lock(), while unix_poll() and unix_dgram_poll() read it locklessly. The fix annotates accesses with WRITE_ONCE() and READ_ONCE().

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions listed in the CVE bundle. Unix domain sockets are common for local IPC, but the sources do not identify affected distributions, configurations, or reachable attack paths.

Exploitation context

The bundle marks KEV false and provides no cited evidence of exploitation. The issue was reported by Kernel Concurrency Sanitizer during testing on Linux 6.3.0-rc7 in QEMU, not from an observed attack.

Researcher notes

The record lacks CVSS, CWE, distro advisories, and impact detail. Analysis should focus on whether local Unix socket polling paths can trigger observable misbehavior on affected kernels and whether vendor backports match the stable commits.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor kernel advisories for CVE-2023-54226 coverage.
  • Update affected Linux kernels to vendor-fixed builds when available.
  • Confirm vendor backports include the referenced stable kernel commits.
  • Prioritize normal kernel patch cycles unless vendor guidance escalates severity.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers, workstations, and appliances.
  • Compare versions against the affected versions in the CVE bundle.
  • Check distribution package changelogs for CVE-2023-54226 or af_unix sk_shutdown fixes.
  • Verify running kernels after reboot, not only installed packages.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

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-2023-54226 mapping review

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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
8Source 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

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.12, 0, 4.19.284, 5.4.244, 5.10.181, 5.15.113, 6.1.30, 6.3.4, 6.4affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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