CVE-2023-54269 — SUNRPC: double free xprt_ctxt while still in use
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: SUNRPC: double free xprt_ctxt while still in use When an RPC request is deferred, the rq_xprt_ctxt pointer is moved out of the svc_rqst into the svc_deferred_req. When the deferred request is revisited, the pointer is copied into the new svc_rqst - and also remains in the svc_deferred_req. In the (rare?) case that the request is deferred a second time, the old svc_deferred_req is reused - it still has all the correct content. However in that case the rq_xprt_ctxt pointer is NOT cleared so that when xpo_release_xprt is called, the ctxt is freed (UDP) or possible added to a free list (RDMA). When the deferred request is revisited for a second time, it will reference this ctxt which may be invalid, and the free the object a second time which is likely to oops. So change svc_defer() to *always* clear rq_xprt_ctxt, and assert that the value is now stored in the svc_deferred_req.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+7
- Technical severity (critical)+10
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ f5e13d700a4d40ccde3d36e383f9247dcb3c1d2d and < 7851771789e87108a92697194105ef0c9307dc5e≥ 773f91b2cf3f52df0d7508fdbf60f37567cdaee4 and < fd86534872f445f54dc01e7db001e25eadf063a8≥ 773f91b2cf3f52df0d7508fdbf60f37567cdaee4 and < e0c648627322a4c7e018e5c7f837c3c03e297dbb≥ 773f91b2cf3f52df0d7508fdbf60f37567cdaee4 and < eb8d3a2c809abd73ab0a060fe971d6b9019aa3c1version 11fab500f86403b2ebf6795feeade6e10302e448≥ 5.15.35 and < 5.15.113≥ 5.17.4 and < 5.18version 5.18 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | 3.9 | 5.9 | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67) EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 15, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 0.55%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- SSVC assessment updated
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 9.8
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- 2025
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× References added · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
6 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eb8d3a2c809abd73ab0a060fe971d6b9019aa3c1
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0c648627322a4c7e018e5c7f837c3c03e297dbb
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-54269
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fd86534872f445f54dc01e7db001e25eadf063a8
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7851771789e87108a92697194105ef0c9307dc5e
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-cphq-rv4m-x79g
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 15h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 15h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98431 RDMA/uverbs: Fix mmap_lock/disassociation_lock circular dependency 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98430 RDMA/efa: Keep admin queues alive while IRQ is registered 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98429 RDMA/efa: Keep EQ resources alive while IRQ is registered 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98428 ALSA: usb: 6fire: Avoid embedded URBs 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2023-54269 is "SUNRPC: double free xprt_ctxt while still in use", rated Critical. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 9.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.55% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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