CVE-2023-53566

netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: fix null deref on element insertion

Published Oct 4, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: fix null deref on element insertion

There is no guarantee that rb_prev() will not return NULL in nft_rbtree_gc_elem():

general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc0000000003: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN
KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000018-0x000000000000001f]
nft_add_set_elem+0x14b0/0x2990
nf_tables_newsetelem+0x528/0xb30

Furthermore, there is a possible use-after-free while iterating,
'node' can be free'd so we need to cache the next value to use.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2023-60042 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: fix null deref on element insertion There is no guarantee that rb_prev() will not return NULL in nft_rbtree_gc_elem(): general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc0000000003: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000018-0x000000000000001f] nft_add_set_elem+0x14b0/0x2990 nf_tables_newsetelem+0x528/0xb30 Furthermore, there is a possible use-after-free while iterating, 'node' can be free'd so we need to cache the next value to use.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.2:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.2:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.2:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.4:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat rhel Eus
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:9.0
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat rhel Eus
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: fix null deref on element insertion There is no guarantee that rb_prev() will not return NULL in nft_rbtree_gc_elem(): general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc0000000003: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP KASAN KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000018-0x000000000000001f] nft_add_set_elem+0x14b0/0x2990 nf_tables_newsetelem+0x528/0xb30 Furthermore, there is a possible use-after-free while iterating, 'node' can be free'd so we need to cache the next value to use.
Title netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: fix null deref on element insertion
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 15, 2026, 9:41 PM
Reserved
Oct 4, 2025, 3:14 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Oct 4, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Oct 15, 2026, 10:17 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Oct 4, 2025, 12:00 AM