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CVE Record

CVE-2026-23297: nfsd: Fix cred ref leak in nfsd_nl_threads_set_doit().

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: Fix cred ref leak in nfsd_nl_threads_set_doit(). syzbot reported memory leak of struct cred. [0] nfsd_nl_threads_set_doit() passes get_current_cred() to nfsd_svc(), but put_cred() is not called after that. The cred is finally passed down to _svc_xprt_create(), which calls get_cred() with the cred for struct svc_xprt. The ownership of the refcount by get_current_cred() is not transferred to anywhere and is just leaked. nfsd_svc() is also called from write_threads(), but it does not bump file->f_cred there. nfsd_nl_threads_set_doit() is called from sendmsg() and current->cred does not go away. Let's use current_cred() in nfsd_nl_threads_set_doit(). [0]: BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff888108b89480 (size 184): comm "syz-executor", pid 5994, jiffies 4294943386 hex dump (first 32 bytes): 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ backtrace (crc 369454a7): kmemleak_alloc_recursive include/linux/kmemleak.h:44 [inline] slab_post_alloc_hook mm/slub.c:4958 [inline] slab_alloc_node mm/slub.c:5263 [inline] kmem_cache_alloc_noprof+0x412/0x580 mm/slub.c:5270 prepare_creds+0x22/0x600 kernel/cred.c:185 copy_creds+0x44/0x290 kernel/cred.c:286 copy_process+0x7a7/0x2870 kernel/fork.c:2086 kernel_clone+0xac/0x6e0 kernel/fork.c:2651 __do_sys_clone+0x7f/0xb0 kernel/fork.c:2792 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline] do_syscall_64+0xa4/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-23297 is a Linux kernel NFS server bug where a credential reference is leaked instead of released. Over repeated triggering, this can waste kernel memory and may affect system stability. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, real-world exploitation, or full distribution package status.

Executive priority

Schedule remediation through normal kernel patching, with higher priority for NFS server infrastructure. No active exploitation is evidenced in the supplied sources, but kernel memory leaks can still create availability risk on shared or critical systems.

Technical view

The issue is in nfsd_nl_threads_set_doit(), which passed get_current_cred() into nfsd_svc() without a matching put_cred(). The leaked struct cred reference was reported by syzbot. The fix changes the path to use current_cred(), avoiding an unowned reference increment.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems running affected kernel versions where kernel NFS server code is present and the nfsd thread-setting path can be reached. Distribution backports may change version-based conclusions, so package-level advisory checks are necessary.

Exploitation context

The provided sources show a syzbot memory leak report and stable kernel fixes. They do not show active exploitation, KEV listing, public exploit availability, or confirmed remote exploitation. Treat this primarily as a potential kernel resource-exhaustion stability issue based on available evidence.

Researcher notes

The source identifies a credential reference leak, not a privilege escalation or data disclosure. Access prerequisites are not fully described in the bundle. Analysis should avoid assuming remote reachability and should focus on code-path reachability, vendor backports, and operational impact.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a Linux kernel containing the referenced stable fixes or equivalent vendor backport.
  • Check distribution advisories for package names, fixed builds, and support status.
  • Prioritize affected systems that run or manage kernel NFS server services.
  • Track vendor guidance if immediate patching is not available.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across NFS server hosts.
  • Confirm whether vendor kernels include backports for CVE-2026-23297.
  • Verify the relevant stable commit or equivalent patch is present.
  • Review kernel and NFS service logs for unexplained memory pressure.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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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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
5Source 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.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux924f4fb003ba114c60b3c07a011dcd86a8956cd1, 924f4fb003ba114c60b3c07a011dcd86a8956cd1, 924f4fb003ba114c60b3c07a011dcd86a8956cd1, 924f4fb003ba114c60b3c07a011dcd86a8956cd1unaffected
LinuxLinux6.10, 0, 6.12.77, 6.18.17, 6.19.7, 7.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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