Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessGain local CAP_NET_ADMIN in netns
-
DeliveryTrigger nf_log backend teardown
-
ExploitRace sysctl/netlink rebind of logger
-
ExecutionFree of backend module memory
-
PersistStale per-net pointer dereferenced
-
ImpactUse-after-free kernel crash (DoS)
Vulnerability Assessment
| Exploitation Conditions | Requires local access with the ability to drive netfilter logger (re)binding - realistically CAP_NET_ADMIN in the target network namespace to write the net.netfilter.nf_log sysctl or issue nfnetlink logging configuration. The affected code paths are the nf_log_syslog and nfnetlink_log backends, and exploitation depends on winning a timing race between unregister_pernet_subsys() per-net teardown (module unload or namespace exit) and a concurrent writer that rebinds the still-registered global logger. Limiting factors: local-only vector, no remote reach, high attack complexity (narrow race window), and dependence on the backend being torn down while a rebind is in flight - this is not exploitable against a steady-state running system without inducing the teardown/rebind race. |
| Impact | This is a classic 'high-CVSS-but-modest-real-risk' Linux kernel race. The NVD CVSS of 7.0 (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/C:H/I:H/A:H) is internally reasonable on vector but the C:H/I:H impact ratings are overstated for what the description actually describes: a use-after-free triggered by an unregister-ordering race in the netfilter nf_log backends (nf_log_syslog, nfnetlink_log). The realistic outcome is a stale per-net logger pointer dereference into freed module memory - a memory-corruption/crash (DoS) primitive, not a demonstrated confidentiality or integrity compromise. All exploitation signals point to low urgency: no EPSS score provided, not in CISA KEV, and no public exploit identified. SSVC framing would be exploitation:none, automatable:no (a narrow timing race requiring local privilege), technical impact best characterized as partial/DoS rather than total. CONFLICT TO NOTE: the 'Information Disclosure' tag contradicts both the description (a write-side rebind race causing a dangling read, i.e., UAF/DoS) and CWE=N/A; treat the info-disclosure framing as unsupported. The AC:H rating is correct - winning the race requires precise timing between per-net teardown/module exit and a concurrent sysctl/netlink writer. Overall: patch in normal maintenance cadence, not an emergency. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local user with CAP_NET_ADMIN in a network namespace repeatedly writes to the net.netfilter.nf_log sysctl (or sends nfnetlink logging config) to rebind a logger at the exact moment nf_log_syslog/nfnetlink_log is being torn down (module unload or netns exit), re-binding the still-registered global backend after the per-net selection was cleared. Once the module frees its backend memory, a subsequent sysctl read or packet-logging path dereferences the now-stale per-net logger pointer, causing a use-after-free and kernel crash. No public exploit code is identified, and the narrow race window (AC:H) makes reliable exploitation difficult. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 25, 2026
Linux kernel netfilter logging (the nf_log_syslog and nfnetlink_log backends) contains a teardown-ordering race that leaves a stale per-network-namespace logger pointer which later sysctl reads or packet-logging operations dereference. A local actor able to rebind the kernel's log backend - realistically requiring CAP_NET_ADMIN in the target network namespace - must win a narrow timing window against module unload or network-namespace exit, so the assessed impact is no confidentiality loss, limited integrity impact, and high availability impact (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H). Vendor patches are available in stable releases 6.12.111, 6.18.53 and 7.2.7 (mainline 7.3-rc3), and no public exploit code or confirmed in-the-wild exploitation has been identified at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patches are available: upgrade to Linux kernel stable 6.12.111, 6.18.53 or 7.2.7, or to mainline 7.3-rc3 or later, which contain the ordering fix (commit eaec35fae8f2052c1878a5c7cc7699d8357d79f2 and stable backports 2c018cc4842c33f0c732962e2ab58635e8ae5823, 64803ba0a05791cf9ca874466480e4c4cadaf7ab and dce24f3a146948595bb1b86347f31e20b4975daa); see https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97608 and the linked kernel.org commits. Because the bug requires a privileged local actor to rebind the logger while the backend is being torn down (typically during nf_log_syslog/nfnetlink_log module unload or network-namespace exit), practical compensations until patching are to avoid unloading those netfilter logging modules on running production hosts, and to deny untrusted users the CAP_NET_ADMIN context needed to race the rebind - for example kernel.unprivileged_userns_clone=0 on Debian/Ubuntu or user.max_user_namespaces=0, with the trade-off that rootless containers, sandboxes and some browser sandboxes that rely on unprivileged user namespaces stop working. Restricting write access to the net.netfilter.nf_log sysctls and to NETLINK_NETFILTER sockets to trusted administrators with CAP_NET_ADMIN narrows exposure with little operational cost. Since no public exploit code or confirmed active exploitation has been identified, environments where the teardown/rebind race is not attacker-reachable can patch on a normal maintenance cadence.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
nf_log is the Linux netfilter packet-logging framework: nf_log_syslog (the syslog backend) and nfnetlink_log (the NFLOG backend) each register a global logger in the kernel's loggers[pf][type] table and also maintain a per-network-namespace selection in net->nf.nf_loggers[pf], protected by nf_log_mutex and RCU. The flawed teardown sequence called unregister_pernet_subsys(), whose nf_log_unset() pre-exit callback clears the per-net pointer, before nf_log_unregister() removed the global backend entry. A concurrent writer (the net.netfilter.nf_log sysctl or an nfnetlink_log configuration message) could acquire nf_log_mutex in that window, rediscover the still-registered global logger, and re-install it into the per-net table; the module would then exit and free the backend memory, leaving a dangling per-net pointer that a later sysctl read or logging call dereferences. The upstream fix reverses the ordering - unregistering the global logger backends first - so writers can no longer rebind, while unregister_pernet_subsys() still waits for an RCU grace period after the pre-exit callback and nf_log_unregister() continues to cover readers of the global table. The record assigns no CWE, but the described flaw is a classic race-condition-to-use-after-free pattern reached only through local teardown paths (module unload or net namespace exit) concurrent with a privileged rebind; CPE data records cpe:2.3:a:linux:linux for the kernel.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local privileged writer (PR:L) must win a narrow teardown/rebind race (AC:H); outcome is a UAF crash (A:H) with limited memory corruption (I:L) and no real disclosure (C:N).
AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from Vendor (Linux).
CVSS VectorVendor: Linux
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netfilter: nf_log: unregister loggers before per-net teardown
nf_log_syslog and nfnetlink_log unregister their per-network namespace operations before unregistering their global logger backends. This leaves a window where a sysctl or netlink writer can rebind the still- registered logger after the per-net pre-exit callback cleared the old selection.
The race looks like this:
CPU 0 CPU 1 ---- ---- unregister_pernet_subsys() nf_log_unset(net, logger) net->nf.nf_loggers[pf] = NULL
lock nf_log_mutex find logger in loggers[][] net->nf.nf_loggers[pf] = logger unlock nf_log_mutex
nf_log_unregister(logger) lock nf_log_mutex loggers[pf][type] = NULL unlock nf_log_mutex synchronize_rcu() module exit returns module core frees backend memory
Later, a sysctl read or packet logging operation can dereference the stale per-net logger pointer.
Fix this by unregistering the global logger backends before tearing down per-net state. Once the global registrations are gone, later writers can no longer rebind the logger. unregister_pernet_subsys() already waits for an RCU grace period after the pre-exit callback clears the per-net selection, while nf_log_unregister() continues to cover readers of the global logger table.
Apply this ordering fix to both nf_log backends that combine per-net teardown with global logger registration.
Executive ViewAI
A race condition in the Linux kernel's netfilter logging subsystem can let an authenticated local user with CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges crash or destabilize affected systems, creating a denial-of-service risk for production servers, container hosts, and network appliances. While exploitation demands elevated local access and precise timing, the resulting availability loss could disrupt business-critical services and multi-tenant workloads. Leadership should treat this as a high-priority patching event to prevent unplanned downtime across the Linux estate.
Apply vendor patch.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
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A buffer overflow in iptables-restore in netfilter iptables 1.8.2 allows an attacker to (at least) crash the program or
Memory-safety corruption in the Linux kernel's netfilter nft_ct conntrack expectation code lets a local user with CAP_NE
extensions/libxt_tcp.c in iptables through 1.4.21 does not match TCP SYN+FIN packets in --syn rules, which might allow r
Netfilter nf_tables in the Linux kernel performed the hardware-offload step before allocating the chain blob during rule
A use-after-free race in the Linux kernel's nfnetlink_cttimeout netfilter module lets a local attacker who holds CAP_NET
Vendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: Moderate| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for NVIDIA 16.1 | Affected |
EUVD-2026-86739
GHSA-gqgj-ww6j-qxj3
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Exploit-DB