Linux Kernel up to 6.12.77/6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4 nf_tables memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.6$0-$5k3.51+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.77/6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component nf_tables. The manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-23399. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.77/6.18.19/6.19.9/7.0-rc4. Affected is an unknown code block of the component nf_tables. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nf_tables: nft_dynset: fix possible stateful expression memleak in error path If cloning the second stateful expression in the element via GFP_ATOMIC fails, then the first stateful expression remains in place without being released.   unreferenced object (percpu) 0x607b97e9cab8 (size 16):     comm "softirq", pid 0, jiffies 4294931867     hex dump (first 16 bytes on cpu 3):       00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00     backtrace (crc 0):       pcpu_alloc_noprof+0x453/0xd80       nft_counter_clone+0x9c/0x190 [nf_tables]       nft_expr_clone+0x8f/0x1b0 [nf_tables]       nft_dynset_new+0x2cb/0x5f0 [nf_tables]       nft_rhash_update+0x236/0x11c0 [nf_tables]       nft_dynset_eval+0x11f/0x670 [nf_tables]       nft_do_chain+0x253/0x1700 [nf_tables]       nft_do_chain_ipv4+0x18d/0x270 [nf_tables]       nf_hook_slow+0xaa/0x1e0       ip_local_deliver+0x209/0x330

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-23399 since 01/13/2026. The exploitability is told to be difficult. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.

Upgrading to version 6.12.78, 6.18.20, 6.19.10 or 7.0-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch d1354873cbe3b344899c4311ac05897fd83e3f21/31641c682db73353e4647e40735c7f2a75ff58ef/c88a9fd26cee365bec932196f76175772a941cca/0548a13b5a145b16e4da0628b5936baf35f51b43 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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Version

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.78/6.18.20/6.19.10/7.0-rc5
Patch: d1354873cbe3b344899c4311ac05897fd83e3f21/31641c682db73353e4647e40735c7f2a75ff58ef/c88a9fd26cee365bec932196f76175772a941cca/0548a13b5a145b16e4da0628b5936baf35f51b43

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
03/28/2026 +74 days Advisory disclosed
03/28/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/28/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23399 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23399
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-354072

Entryinfo

Created: 03/28/2026 10:16
Changes: 03/28/2026 10:16 (58)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:F8A:103

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