CVE-2026-53349: netfilter: nf_conntrack: destroy stale expectfn expectations on unregister
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 22/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.12% (FIRST EPSS).
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: Linux Linux 29d8cc44bbdf7b83a1929912214afe6643c1b4f1, 9d017671dcfcec23321fb7962dea624f9e71ddb1, bf8c0b5dd203be94c2ad50e264cec19267c6bd39; azl3 kernel 6.6.139.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.143.1-1.
- Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Low priority for now. Upgrade to Linux Linux 29d8cc44bbdf7b83a1929912214afe6643c1b4f1, 9d017671dcfcec23321fb7962dea624f9e71ddb1, bf8c0b5dd203be94c2ad50e264cec19267c6bd39; azl3 kernel 6.6.139.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 6.6.143.1-1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_conntrack: destroy stale expectfn expectations on unregister NAT helpers such as nf_nat_h323 store a raw pointer to module text in exp->expectfn (e.g. ip_nat_q931_expect). nf_ct_helper_expectfn_unregister() only unlinks the callback descriptor and never walks the expectation table, so an expectation pending at module removal survives with a dangling exp->expectfn into freed module text. When the expected connection arrives, init_conntrack() invokes exp->expectfn(), now a stale pointer into the unloaded module. Reproduced on a KASAN build by loading the H.323 helpers, creating a Q.931 expectation, unloading nf_nat_h323, then connecting to the expected port: Oops: int3: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI RIP: 0010:0xffffffffa06102d1 init_conntrack.isra.0 (net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c:1862) nf_conntrack_in (net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c:2049) ipv4_conntrack_local (net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_proto.c:223) nf_hook_slow (net/netfilter/core.c:619) __ip_local_out (net/ipv4/ip_output.c:120) __tcp_transmit_skb (net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:1715) tcp_connect (net/ipv4/tcp_output.c:4374) tcp_v4_connect (net/ipv4/tcp_ipv4.c:345) __sys_connect (net/socket.c:2167) Modules linked in: nf_conntrack_h323 [last unloaded: nf_nat_h323] Reaching the dangling state requires CAP_SYS_MODULE in the initial user namespace to remove a NAT helper that still has live expectations, so this is a robustness fix; leaving an expectation pointing at freed text is wrong regardless. Add nf_ct_helper_expectfn_destroy(), which walks the expectation table and drops every expectation whose ->expectfn matches the descriptor being torn down. Call it from each NAT helper's exit path after the existing RCU grace period, so no expectation outlives the code it points at and no extra synchronize_rcu() is introduced. With the fix, the same reproducer runs to completion without the Oops.
- Published
- Jul 1, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 15, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.1% · 1th percentile
- CWE
- —
Report tools
Action score
22
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 22 / 40 · 5.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.1%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
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Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux kernel | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- linux linux kernel2.6.20 and later · before 6.1.176
- linux linux kernel6.2 and later · before 6.6.143
- linux linux kernel6.7 and later · before 6.12.94
- linux linux kernel6.13 and later · before 6.18.36
- linux linux kernel6.19 and later · before 7.0.13
- linux linux kernel7.1
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Linux). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Linux Linux
- 2.6.20affected
- f587de0e2feb9eb9b94f98d0a7b7437e4d6617b4 and later · before fbfde85308b99938a6092c48753214d190ece48daffected · git
- f587de0e2feb9eb9b94f98d0a7b7437e4d6617b4 and later · before 29d8cc44bbdf7b83a1929912214afe6643c1b4f1affected · git
- f587de0e2feb9eb9b94f98d0a7b7437e4d6617b4 and later · before f92c90a2a3e6ff6f9f7fe88fde9004b4ca8f956daffected · git
- f587de0e2feb9eb9b94f98d0a7b7437e4d6617b4 and later · before 9d017671dcfcec23321fb7962dea624f9e71ddb1affected · git
- f587de0e2feb9eb9b94f98d0a7b7437e4d6617b4 and later · before bf8c0b5dd203be94c2ad50e264cec19267c6bd39affected · git
- f587de0e2feb9eb9b94f98d0a7b7437e4d6617b4 and later · before c3009418f9fa1dcb3eb86f4d8c92583537b5faa3affected · git
- before 2.6.20not affected · semver
- 6.1.176 and later · up to and including 6.1.*not affected · semver
- 6.6.143 and later · up to and including 6.6.*not affected · semver
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | linux | before 6.1.176-1 | 6.1.176-1 |
| Debian:13 | linux | before 6.12.94-1 | 6.12.94-1 |
| Debian:14 | linux | before 7.0.13-1 | 7.0.13-1 |
Same product
linux: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-31431crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-placeKEV90Now
- CVE-2022-0847A flaw was found in the way the "flags" member of the new pipe buffer structure was lacking proper initialization in copy_page_to_iter_pipe KEV89Now
- CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV85Now
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2026-53337Jul 1, 2026 · net: bonding: fix NULL pointer dereference in bond_do_ioctl()22Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2026-53341Jul 1, 2026 · fhandle: fix UAF due to unlocked ->mnt_ns read in may_decode_fh()31Monitor
- Later →CVE-2026-53350Jul 1, 2026 · ASoC: wm_adsp: Fix NULL dereference when removing firmware controls22Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Linux Linux | 29d8cc44bbdf7b83a1929912214afe6643c1b4f1 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Linux Linux | 9d017671dcfcec23321fb7962dea624f9e71ddb1 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Linux Linux | bf8c0b5dd203be94c2ad50e264cec19267c6bd39 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Linux Linux | c3009418f9fa1dcb3eb86f4d8c92583537b5faa3 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Linux Linux | f92c90a2a3e6ff6f9f7fe88fde9004b4ca8f956d | Vendor (CNA) |
| Linux Linux | fbfde85308b99938a6092c48753214d190ece48d | Vendor (CNA) |
| azl3 kernel 6.6.139.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 | 6.6.143.1-1 · CBL-Mariner Releases | Microsoft (MSRC) |
| debian:linux | 6.1.176-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-26-0482 · Jul 2, 2026(Linux Kernel Güvenlik Bildirimi)
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (6 more)Show less
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d017671dcfcec23321fb7962dea624f9e71ddb1
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf8c0b5dd203be94c2ad50e264cec19267c6bd39
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c3009418f9fa1dcb3eb86f4d8c92583537b5faa3
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f92c90a2a3e6ff6f9f7fe88fde9004b4ca8f956d
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fbfde85308b99938a6092c48753214d190ece48d
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.