CVE-2026-64401 Details
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb: client: resolve SWN tcon from live registrations cifs_swn_notify() looks up a witness registration by id under cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex, drops the mutex, and then uses the registration's cached tcon pointer. That pointer is not a lifetime reference, and it is not a stable representative once cifs_get_swn_reg() lets multiple tcons for the same net/share name share one registration id. A same-share second mount can keep the cifs_swn_reg alive after the first tcon unregisters and is freed. The registration then still points at the freed first tcon, so taking tc_lock or incrementing tc_count through swnreg->tcon only moves the use-after-free earlier. Taking tc_lock while holding cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex also violates the documented CIFS lock order. Fix this by making the registration store only the stable witness identity: id, net name, share name, and notify flags. When a notify arrives, copy that identity under cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex, drop the mutex, then find and pin a live witness tcon that currently matches the net/share pair under the normal cifs_tcp_ses_lock -> tc_lock order. The notification path uses that pinned tcon directly and drops the reference when done. Registration and unregister messages now use the live tcon passed by the caller instead of a cached tcon in the registration. The final unregister send is folded into cifs_swn_unregister() while the registration is still protected by cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex. This removes the previous find/drop/reacquire raw-pointer window. The release path only removes the idr entry and frees the stable identity strings. This preserves the intended one-registration/many-tcon behavior: a registration id represents a net/share pair, and notify handling acts on a live representative selected at use time. It also preserves CLIENT_MOVE ordering for the representative tcon because the old-IP unregister is sent before cifs_swn_register() sends the new-IP register.
A use-after-free vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel's SMB client, specifically within the CIFS (Common Internet File System) implementation. This issue arises in the witness notification handling, where a registration's cached connection pointer can become invalid. The vulnerability occurs because multiple connections for the same network and share name can share a registration ID, leading to a scenario where an unregistered and freed connection is still referenced. This flaw can be exploited by manipulating the registration process, causing the client to access a freed memory area, which could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition.
Users can upgrade to the latest stable version of the Linux kernel, where this vulnerability has been addressed. Instructions for upgrading the kernel can be found in the official Linux documentation.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
No CVSS 4.0 data is available for this CVE.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
No SSVC data is available for this CVE.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0700f946659d0ab2352ec8a9b1c6fc74b13a27d7 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51d18db392e5386a7bb9e816d611f14e600cca3c | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/91b8a58c6ac15c7db6518f696389933282f88da7 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/945b4a4a54497db1dcb2f20ef801a84e884dac21 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aa3c0cab4b28c5007ec570c63e1d6ad6943ed0fd | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec457f9afe5ae9538bdcd58fd4cb442b9787e183 | kernel.org | Patch |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-416 | Use After Free | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| linux linux kernel | >= 5.11, < 6.1.178 >= 6.2, < 6.6.145 >= 6.7, < 6.12.97 >= 6.13, < 6.18.39 >= 6.19, < 7.1.4 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
4 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 4, 2026 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| Aug 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Jul 27, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Jul 25, 2026 | New CVE Received | kernel.org |