CVE-2026-53397: nfsd: fix posix_acl leak on SETACL decode failure
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
nfsd: fix posixacl leak on SETACL decode failure
nfsaclsvcdecodesetaclargs() and nfs3svcdecodesetaclargs() each call nfsstreamdecodeacl() twice, first for NFSACL and then for NFSDFACL. Each successful call transfers ownership of a freshly allocated posixacl into argp->aclaccess or argp->acldefault. If the first call succeeds but the second fails, the decoder returns false and argp->aclaccess is left dangling.
ACLPROC2SETACL.pcrelease was wired to nfssvcreleaseattrstat and ACLPROC3SETACL.pcrelease was wired to nfs3svcreleasefhandle. Both only call fhput() and have no knowledge of the ACL fields on argp. The posixaclrelease() pairs sat at the out: labels inside nfsacldprocsetacl() and nfsd3procsetacl(), but svcprocess() skips pcfunc when pcdecode returns false, so that cleanup is unreachable on decode failure:
svcprocesscommon() pcdecode() / decodesetaclargs: false / / pcfunc skipped / pcrelease() / fhput only -- ACLs leaked /
The orphaned posixacl is leaked for the lifetime of the server.
Fix by adding nfsaclsvcreleasesetacl() and nfs3svcreleasesetacl(), which release both argp->aclaccess and argp->acldefault in addition to fhput(), and wiring them as pcrelease for their respective SETACL procedures. pcrelease runs on every path svcprocess() takes after decode, including decode failure, so the posixaclrelease() pairs are removed from the proc functions' out: labels to keep ownership in one place. This matches the existing releasegetacl() pattern used by the sibling GETACL procedures.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.150.1-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.119 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.108 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotgto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-kvmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.114 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.113 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1080.84 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1101.103 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.111 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.125 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-31.31~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1018.18~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.39 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-31.31.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-31.31 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1011.11 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1006.7 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1018.18 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bosto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-2018.18 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1011.11 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1019.19 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-31.31.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-31.31.1 - Compensating control
Add nfsaclsvc_release_setacl() and nfs3svc_release_setacl() to release argp->acl_access and argp->acl_default in addition to fh_put(), wire them as pc_release for the respective SETACL procedures, and remove the corresponding posix_acl_release() cleanup from nfsacld_proc_setacl() and nfsd3_proc_setacl() so cleanup runs on decode failure.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exposed to this issue?
Systems running an affected Linux kernel that expose the NFS ACL SETACL handling path are exposed. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation is network-reachable, requires no privileges, and requires no user interaction.
What does an attacker need to do to trigger the leak?
The attacker must cause SETACL argument decoding to successfully allocate the access ACL and then fail while decoding the default ACL. This leaves the first allocated posix_acl unreleased because the normal request handler is skipped after decode failure.
What is the practical impact of repeated exploitation?
Each triggering request can leave an orphaned posix_acl allocated for the lifetime of the server. Repeated requests can therefore consume memory and lead to a denial-of-service condition.