CVE-2026-31414

netfilter: nf_conntrack_expect: use expect->helper

Published Apr 13, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nf_conntrack_expect: use expect->helper

Use expect->helper in ctnetlink and /proc to dump the helper name.
Using nfct_help() without holding a reference to the master conntrack
is unsafe.

Use exp->master->helper in ctnetlink path if userspace does not provide
an explicit helper when creating an expectation to retain the existing
behaviour. The ctnetlink expectation path holds the reference on the
master conntrack and nf_conntrack_expect lock and the nfnetlink glue
path refers to the master ct that is attached to the skb.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4561-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6238-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6243-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8567-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8574-1 Linux kernel (GCP FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8574-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8595-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8596-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8595-2 Linux kernel (AWS) 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-8608-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8609-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8574-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8595-3 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8619-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8631-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8633-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8634-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8635-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8636-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8631-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8631-3 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra IGX) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8633-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8631-4 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8645-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8636-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8665-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8666-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8662-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8667-1 Linux kernel (KVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8669-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-2 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8666-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8666-3 Linux kernel (GCP FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-4 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8715-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8715-2 Linux kernel (AWS FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-5 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
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': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
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

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_conntrack_expect: use expect->helper Use expect->helper in ctnetlink and /proc to dump the helper name. Using nfct_help() without holding a reference to the master conntrack is unsafe. Use exp->master->helper in ctnetlink path if userspace does not provide an explicit helper when creating an expectation to retain the existing behaviour. The ctnetlink expectation path holds the reference on the master conntrack and nf_conntrack_expect lock and the nfnetlink glue path refers to the master ct that is attached to the skb.
Title netfilter: nf_conntrack_expect: use expect->helper
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 10, 2026, 12:43 PM
Reserved
Mar 9, 2026, 3:48 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Apr 13, 2026, 2:16 PM
Modified
Nov 10, 2026, 1:18 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Apr 13, 2026, 12:00 AM