CVE-2026-23272

netfilter: nf_tables: unconditionally bump set->nelems before insertion

Published Mar 20, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nf_tables: unconditionally bump set->nelems before insertion

In case that the set is full, a new element gets published then removed
without waiting for the RCU grace period, while RCU reader can be
walking over it already.

To address this issue, add the element transaction even if set is full,
but toggle the set_full flag to report -ENFILE so the abort path safely
unwinds the set to its previous state.

As for element updates, decrement set->nelems to restore it.

A simpler fix is to call synchronize_rcu() in the error path.
However, with a large batch adding elements to already maxed-out set,
this could cause noticeable slowdown of such batches.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4688-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4700-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6355-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8490-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8491-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8492-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8493-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8492-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8493-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8497-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8498-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8499-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8508-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8492-3 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8490-2 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8492-4 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8492-5 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8527-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8528-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8529-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8530-1 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8545-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8546-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8547-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8604-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8605-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8606-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8607-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8609-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8547-2 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8615-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8616-1 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8617-1 Linux kernel (KVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8619-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8615-2 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8635-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8529-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8530-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.10:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.10:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.10:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:4.10:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
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-367
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: unconditionally bump set->nelems before insertion In case that the set is full, a new element gets published then removed without waiting for the RCU grace period, while RCU reader can be walking over it already. To address this issue, add the element transaction even if set is full, but toggle the set_full flag to report -ENFILE so the abort path safely unwinds the set to its previous state. As for element updates, decrement set->nelems to restore it. A simpler fix is to call synchronize_rcu() in the error path. However, with a large batch adding elements to already maxed-out set, this could cause noticeable slowdown of such batches.
Title netfilter: nf_tables: unconditionally bump set->nelems before insertion
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 30, 2026, 12:23 PM
Reserved
Jan 13, 2026, 3:37 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Mar 20, 2026, 9:16 AM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Mar 20, 2026, 12:00 AM