{"id":"CVE-2026-43060","state":"PUBLISHED","title":"netfilter: nft_ct: drop pending enqueued packets on removal","description":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnetfilter: nft_ct: drop pending enqueued packets on removal\n\nPackets sitting in nfqueue might hold a reference to:\n\n- templates that specify the conntrack zone, because a percpu area is\n  used and module removal is possible.\n- conntrack timeout policies and helper, where object removal leave\n  a stale reference.\n\nSince these objects can just go away, drop enqueued packets to avoid\nstale reference to them.\n\nIf there is a need for finer grain removal, this logic can be revisited\nto make selective packet drop upon dependencies.","publishedAt":"2026-05-05T15:17:26.393Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-19T19:06:11.915Z","severity":{"score":7.8,"label":"High","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","source":"Linux"},"assigner":"Linux","products":["Linux Linux"],"affected":[{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"8a64e76933672b08bd85b63086f33432070fd729","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"3da0b946835f33bf36b459ead764c61a761e689b","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"ab50302190b303f847c4eba0e31a01a56dec596e","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"e68a8db3a0546482b34e9ca5ca886bcf73eb37bb","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"6802ff8beceb9c4254318e81c1395720438f2cc2","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"f29a055e4f593e577805b41228b142b58f48df1b","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"77da55dee67720e2b8d2db49a53334e6c017ee7b","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"36eae0956f659e48d5366d9b083d9417f3263ddc","versionType":"git"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["net/netfilter/nft_ct.c"]},{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"affected","versions":[{"version":"4.19","status":"affected"},{"version":"0","status":"unaffected","lessThan":"4.19","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.10.253","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.10.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.15.203","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.15.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.1.167","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.1.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.6.130","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.6.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.12.78","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.12.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.18.20","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.18.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.19.10","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.19.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"7.0","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"*","versionType":"original_commit_for_fix"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["net/netfilter/nft_ct.c"]}],"references":["https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a64e76933672b08bd85b63086f33432070fd729","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3da0b946835f33bf36b459ead764c61a761e689b","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab50302190b303f847c4eba0e31a01a56dec596e","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e68a8db3a0546482b34e9ca5ca886bcf73eb37bb","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6802ff8beceb9c4254318e81c1395720438f2cc2","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f29a055e4f593e577805b41228b142b58f48df1b","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/77da55dee67720e2b8d2db49a53334e6c017ee7b","https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36eae0956f659e48d5366d9b083d9417f3263ddc"],"weaknesses":["CWE-416"],"ingestedAt":"2026-10-29T20:11:57.932Z","source":{"repository":"CVEProject/cvelistV5","path":"cves/2026/43xxx/CVE-2026-43060.json","commit":"556c9d3a8cd17e218bb8e452ba7cd619a384ff47"},"raw":{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2026-43060","state":"PUBLISHED","datePublished":"2026-05-05T15:17:26.393Z","dateUpdated":"2026-10-19T19:06:11.915Z","assignerShortName":"Linux","assignerOrgId":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","dateReserved":"2026-05-01T14:12:55.981Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"title":"netfilter: nft_ct: drop pending enqueued packets on removal","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnetfilter: nft_ct: drop pending enqueued packets on removal\n\nPackets sitting in nfqueue might hold a reference to:\n\n- templates that specify the conntrack zone, because a percpu area is\n  used and module removal is possible.\n- conntrack timeout policies and helper, where object removal leave\n  a stale reference.\n\nSince these objects can just go away, drop enqueued packets to avoid\nstale reference to them.\n\nIf there is a need for finer grain removal, this logic can be revisited\nto make selective packet drop upon dependencies."}],"affected":[{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"unaffected","versions":[{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"8a64e76933672b08bd85b63086f33432070fd729","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"3da0b946835f33bf36b459ead764c61a761e689b","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"ab50302190b303f847c4eba0e31a01a56dec596e","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"e68a8db3a0546482b34e9ca5ca886bcf73eb37bb","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"6802ff8beceb9c4254318e81c1395720438f2cc2","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"f29a055e4f593e577805b41228b142b58f48df1b","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"77da55dee67720e2b8d2db49a53334e6c017ee7b","versionType":"git"},{"version":"7e0b2b57f01d183e1c84114f1f2287737358d748","status":"affected","lessThan":"36eae0956f659e48d5366d9b083d9417f3263ddc","versionType":"git"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["net/netfilter/nft_ct.c"]},{"vendor":"Linux","product":"Linux","defaultStatus":"affected","versions":[{"version":"4.19","status":"affected"},{"version":"0","status":"unaffected","lessThan":"4.19","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.10.253","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.10.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"5.15.203","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"5.15.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.1.167","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.1.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.6.130","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.6.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.12.78","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.12.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.18.20","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.18.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"6.19.10","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"6.19.*","versionType":"semver"},{"version":"7.0","status":"unaffected","lessThanOrEqual":"*","versionType":"original_commit_for_fix"}],"repo":"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git","programFiles":["net/netfilter/nft_ct.c"]}],"references":[{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a64e76933672b08bd85b63086f33432070fd729"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3da0b946835f33bf36b459ead764c61a761e689b"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab50302190b303f847c4eba0e31a01a56dec596e"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e68a8db3a0546482b34e9ca5ca886bcf73eb37bb"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6802ff8beceb9c4254318e81c1395720438f2cc2"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f29a055e4f593e577805b41228b142b58f48df1b"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/77da55dee67720e2b8d2db49a53334e6c017ee7b"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36eae0956f659e48d5366d9b083d9417f3263ddc"}],"metrics":[{"cvssV3_1":{"version":"3.1","vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","baseScore":7.8,"baseSeverity":"HIGH"},"scenarios":[{"lang":"en","value":"AV:L - The vulnerable path is reached through local NETLINK_NETFILTER/nftables and NFQUEUE configuration plus verdict reinjection, not directly by unauthenticated network packets.\nAC:L - The attacker can deterministically create the nft ct timeout/helper/zone rule, queue packets, remove the referenced object, and reinject the queued packet; no uncontrollable race is required.\nPR:L - nfnetlink requires CAP_NET_ADMIN over the target network namespace, and nftables/netfilter administration is reachable by an unprivileged user via user and network namespaces where enabled.\nUI:N - Exploitation does not require victim interaction after the attacker has local execution; the attacker drives the netlink operations, packet queueing, object removal, and verdicts.\nS:U - The stale reference corrupts or dereferences kernel/netfilter objects within the same kernel security authority; this is a standard local kernel privilege escalation scope.\nC:H - This is a use-after-free/stale-reference condition involving freed nft ct timeout/helper/template objects retained by queued packets, which can be leveraged for kernel memory disclosure.\nI:H - Use-after-free of kernel heap objects and stale helper/function-bearing references can be shaped with heap reuse to gain write/control-flow primitives, so high integrity impact is defensible.\nA:H - At minimum, reinjecting queued packets after object removal can dereference freed kernel memory and crash or oops the kernel."}]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"Linux","orgId":"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67","dateUpdated":"2026-08-05T12:25:39.251Z"},"cpeApplicability":[{"nodes":[{"operator":"OR","negate":false,"cpeMatch":[{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"5.10.253"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"5.15.203"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"6.1.167"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"6.6.130"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"6.12.78"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"6.18.20"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"6.19.10"},{"vulnerable":true,"criteria":"cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*","versionStartIncluding":"4.19","versionEndExcluding":"7.0"}]}]}],"x_generator":{"engine":"bippy-1.2.0"}},"adp":[{"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment","metrics":[{"other":{"type":"ssvc","content":{"id":"CVE-2026-43060","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"no"},{"Technical Impact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-10-16T15:14:09.661568Z"}}}],"problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-416","lang":"en","type":"CWE","description":"CWE-416 Use After Free"}]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"CISA-ADP","orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","dateUpdated":"2026-10-19T19:06:11.915Z"}}]}}}