High severity · published Feb 13, 2026
CVE-2026-23111
netfilter: nf_tables: fix inverted genmask check in nft_map_catchall_activate()
7.8
CVSS
0.5%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: fix inverted genmask check in nft_map_catchall_activate() nft_map_catchall_activate() has an inverted element activity check compared to its non-catchall counterpart nft_mapelem_activate() and compared to what is logically required. nft_map_catchall_activate() is called from the abort path to re-activate catchall map elements that were deactivated during a failed transaction. It should skip elements that are already active (they don't need re-activation) and process elements that are inactive (they need to be restored). Instead, the current code does the opposite: it skips inactive elements and processes active ones. Compare the non-catchall activate callback, which is correct: nft_mapelem_activate(): if (nft_set_elem_active(ext, iter->genmask)) return 0; /* skip active, process inactive */ With the buggy catchall version: nft_map_catchall_activate(): if (!nft_set_elem_active(ext, genmask)) continue; /* skip inactive, process active */ The consequence is that when a DELSET operation is aborted, nft_setelem_data_activate() is never called for the catchall element. For NFT_GOTO verdict elements, this means nft_data_hold() is never called to restore the chain->use reference count. Each abort cycle permanently decrements chain->use. Once chain->use reaches zero, DELCHAIN succeeds and frees the chain while catchall verdict elements still reference it, resulting in a use-after-free. This is exploitable for local privilege escalation from an unprivileged user via user namespaces + nftables on distributions that enable CONFIG_USER_NS and CONFIG_NF_TABLES. Fix by removing the negation so the check matches nft_mapelem_activate(): skip active elements, process inactive ones.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.5% · higher than 44% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
KE
Kernel · Linux
4.19.316 before 4.20; 5.4.262 before 5.5; 5.10.188 before 5.11; 5.15.121 before 5.15.200; 6.1.36 before 6.1.163; 6.3.10 before 6.4; +12 more · source: NVD
LI
Linux · Linux
25aa2ad37c2162be1c0bc4fe6397f7e4c13f00f8 before 8c760ba4e36c750379d13569f23f5a6e185333f5; d60be2da67d172aecf866302c91ea11533eca4d9 before b9b6573421de51829f7ec1cce76d85f5f6fbbd7f; 628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 before 42c574c1504aa089a0a142e4c13859327570473d; 628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 before 1444ff890b4653add12f734ffeffc173d42862dd; 628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 before 8b68a45f9722f2babe9e7bad00aa74638addf081; 628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 before f41c5d151078c5348271ffaf8e7410d96f2d82f8; +11 more · source: vendor
RR
RUGGEDCOM RST2428P · Siemens
before V4.0 · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Support · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Support · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
SS
SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP · Siemens
V3.1.6; V3.1.5; V3.1.7; V3.1.6; V3.1.5; V3.1.7 · source: CISA
SS
SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP · Siemens
V3.1.6; V3.1.5; V3.1.7; V3.1.6; V3.1.5; V3.1.7 · source: CISA
SS
SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP · Siemens
V3.1.6; V3.1.5; V3.1.7 · source: CISA
In the news
VulnerabilityCritical
CVE-2026-23111: Linux nf_tables Flaw Enables Root Exploits
A Linux kernel nf_tables bug lets local users gain root via use-after-free caused by a logic error; patch removes a single “!”. CVE-2026-23111 lives in nf_tables, the Linux kernel’s packet filtering framework. Exodus Intelligence researcher Oliver Sieber found the bug in early 2025 and chained it into a full local privilege escalation. The flaw was […]
Jun 9, 2026·Security Affairs
VulnerabilityCritical
One-Character Linux Kernel Flaw Enables Local Root Access, Exploits Now Public
Security researchers have published a detailed, working exploit for a Linux kernel use-after-free that lets an unprivileged local user escalate to root and break out of a container. The flaw, CVE-2026-23111, sits in the kernel's nf_tables packet-filtering code and was patched upstream on February 5, 2026. Exodus Intelligence released its full technical walkthrough on June 8, and it is not even
Jun 8, 2026·The Hacker News