CVE-2023-53200

netfilter: x_tables: fix percpu counter block leak on error path when creating new netns

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: September 15, 2025 at 02:21 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 06:44 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: x_tables: fix percpu counter block leak on error path when creating new netns Here is the stack where we allocate percpu counter block: +-< __alloc_percpu +-< xt_percpu_counter_alloc +-< find_check_entry # {arp,ip,ip6}_tables.c +-< translate_table And it can be leaked on this code path: +-> ip6t_register_table +-> translate_table # allocates percpu counter block +-> xt_register_table # fails there is no freeing of the counter block on xt_register_table fail. Note: xt_percpu_counter_free should be called to free it like we do in do_replace through cleanup_entry helper (or in __ip6t_unregister_table). Probability of hitting this error path is low AFAICS (xt_register_table can only return ENOMEM here, as it is not replacing anything, as we are creating new netns, and it is hard to imagine that all previous allocations succeeded and after that one in xt_register_table failed). But it's worth fixing even the rare leak.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

4.2 ≤ v < 5.15.1004.2 ≤ v < 6.1.184.2 ≤ v < 6.2.54.2 ≤ v < 6.35.16 ≤ v < 6.1.186.2 ≤ v < 6.2.54.271ae0dff02d756e4d2ca710b79f2ff5390029a5f
Vendor states this is fixed in 0af8c09c896810879387decfba8c942994bb61f5 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 3cc9610a87b7dde82f7360dd4eb6c2c27940ed57 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 512b6c4b83c91d007301ea7d7f095d16c3aceacd (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in e306dbee4c98025a9326386023a12ef4d887e9d1 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.2 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.100 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.18 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.2.5 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.3 (unaffected)

References (4)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0af8c09c896810879387decfba8c942994bb61f5
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3cc9610a87b7dde82f7360dd4eb6c2c27940ed57
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/512b6c4b83c91d007301ea7d7f095d16c3aceacd
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e306dbee4c98025a9326386023a12ef4d887e9d1

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-401

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