CVE-2026-23231

High

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: fix use-after-free in nf_tables_addchain() nf_tables_addchain() publishes the chain to table->chains via list_add_tail_rcu() (in nft_chain_add()) before registering hooks. If nf_tables_register_hook() then fails, the error path calls nft_chain_del() (list_del_rcu()) followed by nf_tables_chain_destroy() with no RCU grace period in between. This creates two use-after-free conditions: 1) Control-plane: nf_tables_dump_chains() traverses table->chains under rcu_read_lock(). A concurrent dump can still be walking the chain when the error path frees it. 2) Packet path: for NFPROTO_INET, nf_register_net_hook() briefly installs the IPv4 hook before IPv6 registration fails. Packets entering nft_do_chain() via the transient IPv4 hook can still be dereferencing chain->blob_gen_X when the error path frees the chain. Add synchronize_rcu() between nft_chain_del() and the chain destroy so that all RCU readers -- both dump threads and in-flight packet evaluation -- have finished before the chain is freed.

SeverityHigh
CVSS7.8
Exploit probability—
ProductLinux Kernel
PublishedMar 4, 2026
First seenMar 4, 2026

How to fix

Update
  • linux linux_kernel6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4 or later

Affected products

ProductAffected versionsFixed in
linux linux_kernel3.16 ≤ v < 6.1.165, 6.2 ≤ v < 6.6.128, 6.7 ≤ v < 6.12.75, 6.13 ≤ v < 6.18.14, 6.19 ≤ v < 6.19.46.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4

Check your version

Choose the product and enter the version you run to see whether it falls in the affected range.

In the Intelligence 360 plan

Attack Surface Management

See the assets tied to your domains, the technologies they run and known vulnerabilities in one list.

CVE-2026-23231 · Linux Kernel · Dark Radar