CVE-2026-23220
5.5 · MEDIUMOverview
CVE-2026-23220 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on February 18, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ksmbd: fix infinite loop caused by next_smb2_rcv_hdr_off reset in error paths
The problem occurs when a signed request fails smb2 signature verification
check. In __process_request(), if check_sign_req() returns an error,
set_smb2_rsp_status(work, STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED) is called.
set_smb2_rsp_status() set work->next_smb2_rcv_hdr_off as zero. By resetting
next_smb2_rcv_hdr_off to zero, the pointer to the next command in the chain
is lost. Consequently, is_chained_smb2_message() continues to point to
the same request header instead of advancing. If the header's NextCommand
field is non-zero, the function returns true, causing __handle_ksmbd_work()
to repeatedly process the same failed request in an infinite loop.
This results in the kernel log being flooded with "bad smb2 signature"
messages and high CPU usage.
This patch fixes the issue by changing the return value from
SERVER_HANDLER_CONTINUE to SERVER_HANDLER_ABORT
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 5.15.145, < 5.16 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-23220?
CVE-2026-23220 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on February 18, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
How severe is CVE-2026-23220?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-23220?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-23220?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-23220 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
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