[PATCH 0/4] smb: server: Clear sensitive data before freeing it
From: Thomas Huth
Date: Mon Aug 10 2026 - 09:33:09 EST
Sensitive data like keys that are stored in stack-local arrays could be
leaked via the stack to the calling functions, or via the heap when using
only normal kfree() functions.
It's good security practice to clear sensitive data on the stack first
with memzero_explicit() before leaving the context, and to use
kfree_sensitive() for data that is returned to the heap.
Disclaimer: The spots that need clearing have been identified with AI,
but the patches have been created manually (for double-checking whether
the findings really make sense). Anyway, I'm not very familiar with the
smb code, so please review carefully. Thanks!
Thomas Huth (4):
smb: server: Clear sensitive stack and heap data in auth.c
smb: server: Make sure that passkey is not leaked on the heap in
user_config.c
smb: server: Free session data with kfree_sensitive() to avoid leaking
of data
smb: server: Free sensitive connection data with kfree_sensitive()
fs/smb/server/auth.c | 11 +++++++++--
fs/smb/server/connection.c | 4 ++--
fs/smb/server/mgmt/user_config.c | 6 +++---
fs/smb/server/mgmt/user_session.c | 4 ++--
4 files changed, 16 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)
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2.55.0