Vulnerability · Published Dec 9, 2025 · Assigned by Linux
CVE-2023-53781smc: Fix use-after-free in tcp_write_timer_handler().
High 7.8
In plain English
A high-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.1% (higher than 4% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smc: Fix use-after-free in tcp_write_timer_handler(). With Eric's ref tracker, syzbot finally found a repro for use-after-free in tcp_write_timer_handler() by kernel TCP sockets. [0] If SMC creates a kernel socket in __smc_create(), the kernel socket is supposed to be freed in smc_clcsock_release() by calling sock_release() when we close() the parent SMC socket. However, at the end of smc_clcsock_release(), the kernel socket's sk_state might not be TCP_CLOSE. This means that we have not called inet_csk_destroy_sock() in __tcp_close() and have not stopped the TCP timers. The kernel socket's TCP timers can be fired later, so we need to hold a refcnt for net as we do for MPTCP subflows in mptcp_subflow_create_socket(). [0]: leaked reference. sk_alloc (./include/net/net_namespace.h:335 net/core/sock.c:2108) inet_create (net/ipv4/af_inet.c:319 net/ipv4/af_inet.c:244) __sock_create (net/socket.c:1546) smc_create (net/smc/af_smc.c:3269 net/smc/af_smc.c:3284) __sock_create (net/socket.c:1546) __sys_socket (net/socket.c:1634 net/socket.c:1618 net/socket.c:1661) __x64_sys_socket (net/socket.c:1672) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:120) ================================================================== BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in tcp_write_timer_handler (net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:378 net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:624 net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:594) Read of size 1 at addr ffff888052b65e0d by task syzrepro/18091 CPU: 0 PID: 18091 Comm: syzrepro Tainted: G W 6.3.0-rc4-01174-gb5d54eb5899a #7 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.0-1.amzn2022.0.1 04/01/2014 Call Trace: <IRQ> dump_stack_lvl (lib/dump_stack.c:107) print_report (mm/kasan/report.c:320 mm/kasan/report.c:430) kasan_report (mm/kasan/report.c:538) tcp_write_timer_handler (net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:378 net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:624 net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:594) tcp_write_timer (./include/linux/spinlock.h:390 net/ipv4/tcp_timer.c:643) call_timer_fn (./arch/x86/include/asm/jump_label.h:27 ./include/linux/jump_label.h:207 ./include/trace/events/timer.h:127 kernel/time/timer.c:1701) __run_timers.part.0 (kernel/time/timer.c:1752 kernel/time/timer.c:2022) run_timer_softirq (kernel/time/timer.c:2037) __do_softirq (./arch/x86/include/asm/jump_label.h:27 ./include/linux/jump_label.h:207 ./include/trace/events/irq.h:142 kernel/softirq.c:572) __irq_exit_rcu (kernel/softirq.c:445 kernel/softirq.c:650) irq_exit_rcu (kernel/softirq.c:664) sysvec_apic_timer_interrupt (arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c:1107 (discriminator 14)) </IRQ>
Affected packages & fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | bpftool | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-abi-stablelists | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-core | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-cross-headers | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-debug | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-debug-core | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-debug-devel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-debug-modules | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-debug-modules-extra | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-devel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-doc | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-headers | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-modules | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-modules-extra | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-core | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-debug | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-debug-core | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-debug-devel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-debug-modules | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-debug-modules-extra | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-devel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-modules | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-rt-modules-extra | 4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25120 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-tools | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-tools-libs | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-tools-libs-devel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-zfcpdump | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-zfcpdump-core | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-zfcpdump-devel | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-zfcpdump-modules | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | kernel-zfcpdump-modules-extra | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | perf | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| AlmaLinux:8 | python3-perf | 4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | ALSA-2026:25121 |
| Debian:12 | linux | no fix listed | DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Debian:13 | linux | 6.3.7-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Debian:14 | linux | 6.3.7-1 | DEBIAN-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Rocky Linux:8 | kernel | 0:4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10 | RLSA-2026:25121 |
| Rocky Linux:8 | kernel | 0:4.18.0-553.132.1.el8_10.cloud.0.1 | RXSA-2026:25121 |
| Rocky Linux:8 | kernel-rt | 0:4.18.0-553.132.1.rt7.473.el8_10 | RLSA-2026:25120 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-allwinner-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-aws-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gcp-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gke | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-gkeop | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-ibm | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-intel-iotg | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-kvm | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-5.17 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-oracle-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-raspi | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-realtime | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:24.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.14 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-riscv-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-5.19 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.2 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-starfive-6.5 | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | no fix listed | UBUNTU-CVE-2023-53781 |
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ac7138746e14137a451f8539614cdd349153e0c0 – before 08f057bd1e559cdb388c77b18de3eea3d3d8cb24ac7138746e14137a451f8539614cdd349153e0c0 – before 1cc41c8acfc1ee30b4868559058db97fa44b0137ac7138746e14137a451f8539614cdd349153e0c0 – before 9744d2bf19762703704ecba885b7ac282c02eacf |
| Linux | Linux | 4.11 |