Skip to main content

Linux Kernel CVE-2026-52996

| EUVDEUVD-2026-38864 MEDIUM
Memory Leak (CWE-401)
2026-06-24 Linux GHSA-w2x4-6hp6-4hc7
5.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
Share

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY
5.5 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
vuln.today AI
6.5 MEDIUM

ksmbd is network-accessible via SMB, so AV:N overrides the NVD AV:L; SMB authentication required sets PR:L; no C or I impact per description.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from NVD.

CVSS VectorNVD

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

5
Analysis Generated
Jul 15, 2026 - 15:16 vuln.today
CVSS changed
Jul 15, 2026 - 13:07 NVD
5.5 (MEDIUM)
Patch available
Jun 24, 2026 - 18:02 EUVD
CVE Published
Jun 24, 2026 - 16:29 nvd
MEDIUM 5.5
CVE Published
Jun 24, 2026 - 16:29 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)

DescriptionNVD

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ksmbd: fix durable fd leak on ClientGUID mismatch in durable v2 open

ksmbd_lookup_fd_cguid() returns a ksmbd_file with its refcount incremented via ksmbd_fp_get(). parse_durable_handle_context() in the DURABLE_REQ_V2 case properly releases this reference on every path inside the ClientGUID-match branch, either by calling ksmbd_put_durable_fd() or by transferring ownership to dh_info->fp for a successful reconnect. However, when an entry exists in the global file table with the same CreateGuid but a different ClientGUID, the code simply falls through to the new-open path without dropping the reference obtained from ksmbd_lookup_fd_cguid().

Per MS-SMB2 section 3.3.5.9.10 ("Handling the SMB2_CREATE_DURABLE_HANDLE_REQUEST_V2 Create Context"), the server MUST locate an Open whose Open.CreateGuid matches the request's CreateGuid AND whose Open.ClientGuid matches the ClientGuid of the connection that received the request. If no such Open is found, the server MUST continue with the normal open execution phase. A CreateGuid hit with a ClientGUID mismatch is therefore the "Open not found" case: proceeding with a new open is correct, but the reference obtained purely as a side effect of the lookup must not be leaked.

Repeated requests that hit this mismatch pin global_ft entries, prevent __ksmbd_close_fd() from ever running for the corresponding files, and defeat the durable scavenger, leading to long-lived resource leaks.

Release the reference in the mismatch path and clear dh_info->fp so subsequent logic does not mistake a non-matching lookup result for a reconnect target.

AnalysisAI

Resource exhaustion in the Linux kernel ksmbd SMB server allows a low-privileged authenticated SMB client to leak kernel file descriptor references by sending repeated SMB2 CREATE requests with a DURABLE_HANDLE_REQUEST_V2 context that produces a CreateGuid hit but a ClientGUID mismatch. Each such request increments the refcount on a ksmbd_file via ksmbd_fp_get() in ksmbd_lookup_fd_cguid() but the mismatch code path never calls the matching release, causing global_ft entries to be pinned indefinitely. …

Unlock full vulnerability intelligence

  • Risk assessment & exploitation conditions
  • Attack chain visualization
  • Remediation with exact patch versions
  • Threat intelligence from 22 sources
  • Personal watchlist & email alerts

Free forever · No credit card required

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata

Access
Obtain low-privilege SMB credentials
Delivery
Authenticate to ksmbd SMB2/3 server
Exploit
Send SMB2 CREATE with DURABLE_REQ_V2 context (CreateGuid match, ClientGUID mismatch)
Execution
ksmbd_fp_get() refcount leaked on mismatch path
Persist
Repeat at high rate to pin global_ft entries
Impact
Exhaust kernel file-table resources, deny service

Vulnerability AssessmentAI

Exploitation Exploitation requires: (1) the ksmbd kernel module loaded and actively serving SMB2/3 on the target system - ksmbd is not enabled by default on most mainstream distributions, so this is a non-default configuration prerequisite; (2) valid SMB credentials at any privilege level (PR:L) sufficient to issue SMB2 CREATE requests; (3) the ability to send repeated SMB2 CREATE requests with a crafted DURABLE_HANDLE_REQUEST_V2 create context containing a CreateGuid that matches an existing open entry but a ClientGUID that differs from the connection's GUID. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment.
Risk Assessment The NVD-assigned CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H scores 5.5 (Medium). … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in.
Exploit Scenario An authenticated SMB user with low-privilege credentials connects to a Linux host running ksmbd and sends a stream of SMB2 CREATE requests, each carrying a DURABLE_HANDLE_REQUEST_V2 create context whose CreateGuid is set to match a known or guessed open file entry but whose ClientGUID deliberately differs from the session's own GUID. Each request leaks one ksmbd_file reference without triggering cleanup. …
Remediation The primary fix is to upgrade to a patched Linux kernel version: 6.6.141, 6.12.91, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, or 7.1 depending on the stable series in use. … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report.

Threat intelligence, references, and detailed analysis are available after sign-in.

Share

CVE-2026-52996 vulnerability details – vuln.today

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy