CVE-2026-23111: netfilter: nf_tables: fix inverted genmask check in nft_map_catchall_activate()

Published Feb 13, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nftables: fix inverted genmask check in nftmapcatchallactivate()

nftmapcatchallactivate() has an inverted element activity check compared to its non-catchall counterpart nftmapelemactivate() and compared to what is logically required.

nftmapcatchallactivate() is called from the abort path to re-activate catchall map elements that were deactivated during a failed transaction. It should skip elements that are already active (they don't need re-activation) and process elements that are inactive (they need to be restored). Instead, the current code does the opposite: it skips inactive elements and processes active ones.

Compare the non-catchall activate callback, which is correct:

nftmapelemactivate(): if (nftsetelemactive(ext, iter->genmask)) return 0; / skip active, process inactive /

With the buggy catchall version:

nftmapcatchallactivate(): if (!nftsetelemactive(ext, genmask)) continue; / skip inactive, process active /

The consequence is that when a DELSET operation is aborted, nftsetelemdataactivate() is never called for the catchall element. For NFTGOTO verdict elements, this means nftdatahold() is never called to restore the chain->use reference count. Each abort cycle permanently decrements chain->use. Once chain->use reaches zero, DELCHAIN succeeds and frees the chain while catchall verdict elements still reference it, resulting in a use-after-free.

This is exploitable for local privilege escalation from an unprivileged user via user namespaces + nftables on distributions that enable CONFIGUSERNS and CONFIGNFTABLES.

Fix by removing the negation so the check matches nftmapelemactivate(): skip active elements, process inactive ones.

Affected Software

19 affected components
Linux Linux kernel
Linux Linux kernel>=4.19.316<4.20
Linux Linux kernel>=5.4.262<5.5
Linux Linux kernel>=5.10.188<5.11
Linux Linux kernel>=5.15.121<5.15.200
Linux Linux kernel>=6.1.36<6.1.163
Linux Linux kernel>=6.3.10<6.4
Linux Linux kernel>=6.4.1<6.6.124
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.70
Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.10
Linux Linux kernel=6.4
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc7
Linux Linux kernel=6.19-rc8

Event History

Feb 13, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:29 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:29 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·02:01 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·02:16 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-23111?

CVE-2026-23111 is a vulnerability that may impact system integrity due to the inverted genmask check in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-23111?

To fix CVE-2026-23111, update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version that addresses this vulnerability.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-23111?

CVE-2026-23111 affects the Linux kernel, specifically systems utilizing the netfilter functionality.

4

What are the potential consequences of CVE-2026-23111?

The potential consequences of CVE-2026-23111 include misconfigured packet processing rules, which could lead to unauthorized access.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2026-23111 if I cannot update immediately?

There are no specific workarounds for CVE-2026-23111, so it is recommended to apply the kernel update as soon as possible.

Contact

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