CVE-2026-53394: nfsd: avoid leaking pre-allocated openowner on unconfirmed retry race

Published Jul 19, 2026
·
Updated

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

nfsd: avoid leaking pre-allocated openowner on unconfirmed retry race

When findorallocopenstateowner() encounters an unconfirmed owner, it calls releaseopenowner() and sets oo = NULL. Control then falls through past the if (oo) guard -- which would have freed any pre-allocated new -- and unconditionally executes new = allocstateowner(...). If new was already allocated on a prior iteration, the pointer is silently overwritten and the previous allocation (slab object + owner name buffer) is leaked.

This requires a race: two NFSv4.0 OPEN threads with the same owner string, where a concurrent thread inserts a new unconfirmed owner into the hash between retry iterations. The window is narrow but repeatable under adversarial conditions.

Fix by adding goto retry after oo = NULL so the already-allocated new is reused on the next iteration rather than overwritten.

Affected Software

4 affected components
Linux Linux kernel (nfsd)
Linux Linux kernel>=6.10<6.12.95
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.38
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<7.1.3

Event History

Jul 19, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:01 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:01 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·12:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-53394?

The severity of CVE-2026-53394 is rated as high with a score of 7.5.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-53394?

To fix CVE-2026-53394, apply the available patch for the Linux kernel.

3

What impact does CVE-2026-53394 have on the Linux kernel?

CVE-2026-53394 can cause a leak of pre-allocated openowner in the NFS server during unconfirmed retry races.

4

Is there a known exploit for CVE-2026-53394?

There are currently no publicly known exploits for CVE-2026-53394.

5

When was CVE-2026-53394 published?

CVE-2026-53394 was published on July 19, 2026.

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