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High · 7.8 CVE-2026-43116 EUVD-2026-27641GHSA-88rv-c8gv-rfv7

netfilter: ctnetlink: ensure safe access to master conntrack

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated Nov 10, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

Vendor: Linux Product: Linux Package: kernel Package: linux Package: linux Package: linux-allwinner-5.19 Package: linux-aws Package: linux-aws-5.0 Package: linux-aws-5.11 Package: linux-aws-5.13 Package: linux-aws-5.15 Package: linux-aws-5.19 Package: linux-aws-5.3 Package: linux-aws-5.4 Package: linux-aws-5.8 Package: linux-aws-6.14 Package: linux-aws-6.17 Package: linux-aws-6.2 Package: linux-aws-6.5 Package: linux-aws-6.8 Package: linux-aws-fips Package: linux-aws-hwe Package: linux-azure Package: linux-azure-4.15 Package: linux-azure-5.11 Package: linux-azure-5.13 Package: linux-azure-5.15 Package: linux-azure-5.19 Package: linux-azure-5.3 Package: linux-azure-5.4 Package: linux-azure-5.8 Package: linux-azure-6.11 Package: linux-azure-6.14 Package: linux-azure-6.17 Package: linux-azure-6.2 Package: linux-azure-6.5 Package: linux-azure-6.8 Package: linux-azure-edge Package: linux-azure-fde Package: linux-azure-fde-5.15 Package: linux-azure-fde-5.19 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.14 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.17 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.2 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.8 Package: linux-azure-fips Package: linux-azure-nvidia Package: linux-azure-nvidia-6.14 Package: linux-bluefield Package: linux-fips Package: linux-gcp Package: linux-gcp-4.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.11 Package: linux-gcp-5.13 Package: linux-gcp-5.15 Package: linux-gcp-5.19 Package: linux-gcp-5.3 Package: linux-gcp-5.4 Package: linux-gcp-5.8 Package: linux-gcp-6.11 Package: linux-gcp-6.14 Package: linux-gcp-6.17 Package: linux-gcp-6.2 Package: linux-gcp-6.5 Package: linux-gcp-6.8 Package: linux-gcp-fips Package: linux-gke Package: linux-gke-4.15 Package: linux-gke-5.15 Package: linux-gke-5.4 Package: linux-gkeop Package: linux-gkeop-5.15 Package: linux-gkeop-5.4 Package: linux-hwe Package: linux-hwe-5.11 Package: linux-hwe-5.13 Package: linux-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-hwe-5.4 Package: linux-hwe-5.8 Package: linux-hwe-6.11 Package: linux-hwe-6.14 Package: linux-hwe-6.17 Package: linux-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-hwe-6.8 Package: linux-hwe-edge Package: linux-ibm Package: linux-ibm-5.15 Package: linux-ibm-5.4 Package: linux-ibm-6.8 Package: linux-intel-5.13 Package: linux-intel-iot-realtime Package: linux-intel-iotg Package: linux-intel-iotg-5.15 Package: linux-iot Package: linux-kvm Package: linux-lowlatency Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 Package: linux-lts-xenial Package: linux-nvidia Package: linux-nvidia-6.11 Package: linux-nvidia-6.17 Package: linux-nvidia-6.2 Package: linux-nvidia-6.5 Package: linux-nvidia-6.8 Package: linux-nvidia-lowlatency Package: linux-nvidia-tegra Package: linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 Package: linux-nvidia-tegra-igx Package: linux-oem Package: linux-oem-5.10 Package: linux-oem-5.13 Package: linux-oem-5.14 Package: linux-oem-5.17 Package: linux-oem-5.6 Package: linux-oem-6.0 Package: linux-oem-6.1 Package: linux-oem-6.11 Package: linux-oem-6.14 Package: linux-oem-6.17 Package: linux-oem-6.5 Package: linux-oem-6.8 Package: linux-oracle Package: linux-oracle-5.0 Package: linux-oracle-5.11 Package: linux-oracle-5.13 Package: linux-oracle-5.15 Package: linux-oracle-5.3 Package: linux-oracle-5.4 Package: linux-oracle-5.8 Package: linux-oracle-6.14 Package: linux-oracle-6.17 Package: linux-oracle-6.5 Package: linux-oracle-6.8 Package: linux-raspi Package: linux-raspi-5.4 Package: linux-raspi-realtime Package: linux-raspi2 Package: linux-realtime Package: linux-realtime-6.14 Package: linux-realtime-6.17 Package: linux-realtime-6.8 Package: linux-riscv Package: linux-riscv-5.11 Package: linux-riscv-5.15 Package: linux-riscv-5.19 Package: linux-riscv-5.8 Package: linux-riscv-6.14 Package: linux-riscv-6.17 Package: linux-riscv-6.5 Package: linux-riscv-6.8 Package: linux-starfive-5.19 Package: linux-starfive-6.2 Package: linux-starfive-6.5 Package: linux-vmware Package: linux-xilinx Package: linux-xilinx-zynqmp Platform: Linux Ecosystem: Azure Linux Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: ctnetlink: ensure safe access to master conntrack

Holding reference on the expectation is not sufficient, the master
conntrack object can just go away, making exp->master invalid.

To access exp->master safely:

- Grab the nf_conntrack_expect_lock, this gets serialized with
clean_from_lists() which also holds this lock when the master
conntrack goes away.

- Hold reference on master conntrack via nf_conntrack_find_get().
Not so easy since the master tuple to look up for the master conntrack
is not available in the existing problematic paths.

This patch goes for extending the nf_conntrack_expect_lock section
to address this issue for simplicity, in the cases that are described
below this is just slightly extending the lock section.

The add expectation command already holds a reference to the master
conntrack from ctnetlink_create_expect().

However, the delete expectation command needs to grab the spinlock
before looking up for the expectation. Expand the existing spinlock
section to address this to cover the expectation lookup. Note that,
the nf_ct_expect_iterate_net() calls already grabs the spinlock while
iterating over the expectation table, which is correct.

The get expectation command needs to grab the spinlock to ensure master
conntrack does not go away. This also expands the existing spinlock
section to cover the expectation lookup too. I needed to move the
netlink skb allocation out of the spinlock to keep it GFP_KERNEL.

For the expectation events, the IPEXP_DESTROY event is already delivered
under the spinlock, just move the delivery of IPEXP_NEW under the
spinlock too because the master conntrack event cache is reached through
exp->master.

While at it, add lockdep notations to help identify what codepaths need
to grab the spinlock.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Linux Linux 2.6.16 6.1.176

Fixed in Linux distributions

Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 linux 6.19.14-1 —
Debian 13 linux 6.12.94-1 —
Debian 12 linux 6.1.176-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS linux-bluefield 6.8.0-1032.37 —
Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS linux-bluefield No fix yet —
Ubuntu 25.10 linux +8 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux 6.8.0-146.146 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-aws 6.8.0-1066.69 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-azure-fde 6.8.0-1068.75 USN-8904-1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-gcp +1 6.8.0-1070.78 USN-8905-2, USN-8904-1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-gke 6.8.0-1065.73 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-gkeop 6.8.0-1051.55 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-ibm 6.8.0-1066.67 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-lowlatency 6.8.0-146.146.1 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-nvidia 6.8.0-1064.67 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-nvidia-lowlatency 6.8.0-1064.67.1 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-nvidia-tegra 6.8.0-1035.38 USN-8781-1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-oracle 6.8.0-1063.66 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-raspi 6.8.0-1068.72 USN-9025-1
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-riscv +29 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-vmware 6.8.0-1008.8 —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux +49 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-aws-6.8 6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-azure-fde-6.8 6.8.0-1068.75~22.04.1 USN-8904-1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-gcp-6.8 +1 6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1 USN-8905-1, USN-8904-1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-hwe-6.8 6.8.0-149.149~22.04.1 USN-9066-1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-ibm-6.8 6.8.0-1066.67~22.04.1 USN-8906-1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 6.8.0-146.146.1~22.04.1 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-nvidia-6.8 6.8.0-1064.67~22.04.1 USN-8903-2
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-oracle-6.8 6.8.0-1067.71~22.04.1 USN-9025-1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-riscv-6.8 6.8.0-146.146~22.04.1 —
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gke +28 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp +14 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS linux-hwe-edge No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS linux-raspi-realtime 6.8.0-2056.58 USN-9025-1
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS linux-realtime 6.8.1-1061.62 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS linux-realtime-6.14 +1 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-realtime +1 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS linux-realtime-6.8 6.8.1-1061.62~22.04.1 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 6.8.0-1066.69+fips1 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 6.8.0-1069.77+fips1 USN-8904-1
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS linux-fips 6.8.0-146.146+fips1 USN-8903-1
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 6.8.0-1070.78+fips1 USN-8905-1
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS linux-fips No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS linux +21 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS linux +12 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS linux +7 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS linux +3 No fix yet —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
RHEL 10 rv +76 6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 RHSA-2026:21557
RHEL 9 rv +75 5.14.0-687.15.1.el9_8 RHSA-2026:25217
RHEL 8 kernel-rt +12 4.18.0-553.150.1.rt7.491.el8_10 RHSA-2026:49213
RHEL 8 perf +26 4.18.0-553.150.1.el8_10 RHSA-2026:49214
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Red Hat Rhel Extras Rt Els 7 kernel-rt +7 3.10.0-1160.159.1.rt56.1311.el7 RHSA-2026:63189
RHEL 10.0 EUS rv +77 6.12.0-55.82.1.el10_0 RHSA-2026:27731
RHEL 9.6 EUS rv +77 5.14.0-570.123.1.el9_6 RHSA-2026:27708
RHEL 9.4 E4S bpftool 7.3.0-427.132.1.el9_4 RHSA-2026:27735
RHEL 9.4 E4S rv +62 5.14.0-427.132.1.el9_4 RHSA-2026:27735
RHEL 9.2 E4S bpftool 7.0.0-284.176.1.el9_2 RHSA-2026:26515
RHEL 9.2 E4S kernel-rt +14 5.14.0-284.176.1.rt14.461.el9_2 RHSA-2026:26462
RHEL 9.2 E4S perf +47 5.14.0-284.176.1.el9_2 RHSA-2026:26515
RHEL 8.8 TUS perf +17 4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8 RHSA-2026:26563
RHEL 8.8 E4S perf +18 4.18.0-477.147.1.el8_8 RHSA-2026:26563
RHEL 8.6 EUS Long Life perf +17 4.18.0-372.196.1.el8_6 RHSA-2026:26570
RHEL 8.6 AUS perf +17 4.18.0-372.196.1.el8_6 RHSA-2026:26570
RHEL 8.4 EUS Long Life perf +17 4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4 RHSA-2026:26535
RHEL 8.4 AUS perf +17 4.18.0-305.194.1.el8_4 RHSA-2026:26535
RHEL 7 ELS perf +18 3.10.0-1160.159.1.el7 RHSA-2026:61692

AlmaLinux

Errata ↗
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
AlmaLinux 10 rv +74 6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 ALSA-2026:21557
AlmaLinux 9 rv +73 5.14.0-687.15.1.el9_8 ALSA-2026:25217
AlmaLinux 8 kernel-rt +9 4.18.0-553.150.1.rt7.491.el8_10 ALSA-2026:49213
AlmaLinux 8 perf +24 4.18.0-553.150.1.el8_10 ALSA-2026:49214

Rocky Linux

Errata ↗
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Rocky Linux 10 kernel 6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 RLSA-2026:21557
Rocky Linux 9 kernel 5.14.0-687.15.1.el9_7.cloud.1.0 RXSA-2026:25217, RLSA-2026:25217
Rocky Linux 8 kernel 4.18.0-553.150.1.el8_10 RLSA-2026:49214
Rocky Linux 8 kernel-rt 4.18.0-553.150.1.rt7.491.el8_10 RLSA-2026:49213
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES 15 SP7 kernel-64kb +7 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4254-1
SLES 15 SP7 kernel-default-base 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1.150700.17.45.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4254-1
SLES 12 SP5 kernel-syms +2 4.12.14-122.328.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4282-1
Show 8 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES for SAP 16.0 kernel-64kb +8 6.12.0-160000.38.1 SUSE-SU-2026:23902-1
SLES for SAP 16.0 kernel-default-base 6.12.0-160000.38.1.160000.2.23 SUSE-SU-2026:23902-1
SLES 16.0 kernel-64kb +8 6.12.0-160000.38.1 SUSE-SU-2026:23902-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23897-1
SLES 16.0 kernel-default-base 6.12.0-160000.38.1.160000.2.23 SUSE-SU-2026:23902-1
SLE Micro 6.2 kernel-default-base 6.12.0-160000.38.1.160000.2.23 SUSE-SU-2026:23887-1
SLE Micro 6.2 kernel-rt +5 6.12.0-160000.38.1 SUSE-SU-2026:23887-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23881-1
SLE Micro 6.1 kernel-default-base 6.4.0-52.1.21.34 SUSE-SU-2026:23529-1
SLE Micro 6.1 kernel-rt +4 6.4.0-52.1 SUSE-SU-2026:23529-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23528-1
SLE Micro 6.0 kernel-default-base 6.4.0-52.1.21.36 SUSE-SU-2026:23481-1
SLE Micro 6.0 kernel-rt +4 6.4.0-52.1 SUSE-SU-2026:23481-1, SUSE-SU-2026:23477-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-default 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4254-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_20 1-150700.1.3.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4120-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_21 1-150700.15.3.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4254-1
SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default 4.12.14-122.328.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4282-1
SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_87 1-8.5.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4282-1
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 kernel-rt +2 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1 SUSE-SU-2026:4120-1
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
openSUSE Leap 16.0 kernel-default-base 6.12.0-160000.38.1.160000.2.22 openSUSE-SU-2026:21910-1
openSUSE Leap 16.0 kernel-rt +11 6.12.0-160000.38.1 openSUSE-SU-2026:21910-1

Amazon Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Amazon Linux 2023 kernel-livepatch-6.18.25-55.108 +2 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1894, ALAS2023-2026-1882, ALAS2023-2026-1693
Amazon Linux 2023 perf +11 1:6.1.175-219.357.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1882
Amazon Linux 2023 perf6.12 +11 1:6.12.92-122.166.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1894
Amazon Linux 2023 perf6.18 +11 1:6.18.25-55.108.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1693

Azure Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Azure Linux 3 kernel 6.6.143.1-1 —

Oracle Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Oracle Linux 10 rv +29 6.12.0-211.34.1.el10_2 ELSA-2026-21557
Oracle Linux 9 kernel-uek +34 6.12.0-206.104.3.3.el10uek ELSA-2026-500248
Oracle Linux 9 rv +28 5.14.0-687.17.1.el9_8 ELSA-2026-25217
Oracle Linux 8 perf +19 4.18.0-553.150.1.el8_10 ELSA-2026-49214

Advisories 50

References