CVE-2026-23205
Published: February 14, 2026· Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
smb/client: fix memory leak in smb2_open_file()
Reproducer:
1. server: directories are exported read-only
2. client: mount -t cifs //${server_ip}/export /mnt
3. client: dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/file bs=512 count=1000 oflag=direct
4. client: umount /mnt
5. client: sleep 1
6. client: modprobe -r cifs
The error message is as follows:
=============================================================================
BUG cifs_small_rq (Not tainted): Objects remaining on __kmem_cache_shutdown()
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Object 0x00000000d47521be @offset=14336
...
WARNING: mm/slub.c:1251 at __kmem_cache_shutdown+0x34e/0x440, CPU#0: modprobe/1577
...
Call Trace:
<TASK>
kmem_cache_destroy+0x94/0x190
cifs_destroy_request_bufs+0x3e/0x50 [cifs]
cleanup_module+0x4e/0x540 [cifs]
__se_sys_delete_module+0x278/0x400
__x64_sys_delete_module+0x5f/0x70
x64_sys_call+0x2299/0x2ff0
do_syscall_64+0x89/0x350
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e
...
kmem_cache_destroy cifs_small_rq: Slab cache still has objects when called from cifs_destroy_request_bufs+0x3e/0x50 [cifs]
WARNING: mm/slab_common.c:532 at kmem_cache_destroy+0x16b/0x190, CPU#0: modprobe/1577
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-23205 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (5)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-23205 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts