CVE-2026-72430

net/sched: act_ct: fix nf_connlabels leak on two error paths

Published Aug 15, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/sched: act_ct: fix nf_connlabels leak on two error paths

tcf_ct_fill_params() calls nf_connlabels_get() (setting put_labels) when
TCA_CT_LABELS is present, but two later error sites use a bare return
instead of "goto err", skipping the err: nf_connlabels_put() cleanup.
They also precede the "p->put_labels = put_labels" assignment, so the
tcf_ct_params_free() fallback does not release the count either. Each
failed RTM_NEWACTION on these paths leaks one nf_connlabels reference:
net->ct.labels_used is incremented and never released. The action is
reachable with CAP_NET_ADMIN over the netns, i.e. from an unprivileged
user namespace on default-userns kernels.

Impact: an unprivileged user with CAP_NET_ADMIN over a network namespace
(e.g. via user namespaces) leaks one nf_connlabels reference per failed
RTM_NEWACTION on the two error paths; net->ct.labels_used is never
released.

The err: label is safe to reach from both sites: p->tmpl is still NULL
there (kzalloc'd, not yet assigned) and nf_ct_put(NULL) is a no-op, so
no inline release is needed.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8887-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8888-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8889-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8887-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8888-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8887-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8917-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8918-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9003-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9043-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-399
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-772
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-399
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: act_ct: fix nf_connlabels leak on two error paths tcf_ct_fill_params() calls nf_connlabels_get() (setting put_labels) when TCA_CT_LABELS is present, but two later error sites use a bare return instead of "goto err", skipping the err: nf_connlabels_put() cleanup. They also precede the "p->put_labels = put_labels" assignment, so the tcf_ct_params_free() fallback does not release the count either. Each failed RTM_NEWACTION on these paths leaks one nf_connlabels reference: net->ct.labels_used is incremented and never released. The action is reachable with CAP_NET_ADMIN over the netns, i.e. from an unprivileged user namespace on default-userns kernels. Impact: an unprivileged user with CAP_NET_ADMIN over a network namespace (e.g. via user namespaces) leaks one nf_connlabels reference per failed RTM_NEWACTION on the two error paths; net->ct.labels_used is never released. The err: label is safe to reach from both sites: p->tmpl is still NULL there (kzalloc'd, not yet assigned) and nf_ct_put(NULL) is a no-op, so no inline release is needed.
Title net/sched: act_ct: fix nf_connlabels leak on two error paths
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
Aug 17, 2026, 5:14 AM
Reserved
Aug 9, 2026, 3:40 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 15, 2026, 6:22 AM
Modified
Aug 17, 2026, 6:19 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 15, 2026, 12:00 AM