CVE-2026-53212

netfilter: nft_tunnel: fix use-after-free on object destroy

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: June 25, 2026 at 08:39 AM UTC
Updated: October 19, 2026 at 08:19 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_tunnel: fix use-after-free on object destroy nft_tunnel_obj_destroy() calls metadata_dst_free() which directly kfree()s the metadata_dst, ignoring the dst_entry refcount. Packets that took a reference via dst_hold() in nft_tunnel_obj_eval() and are still queued (e.g. in a netem qdisc) are left with a dangling pointer. When these packets are eventually dequeued, dst_release() operates on freed memory. Replace metadata_dst_free() with dst_release() so the metadata_dst is freed only after all references are dropped. The dst subsystem already handles metadata_dst cleanup in dst_destroy() when DST_METADATA is set.

Affected

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

4.19 ≤ v < 5.10.2595.11 ≤ v < 5.15.2105.16 ≤ v < 6.1.1766.13 ≤ v < 6.18.366.19 ≤ v < 7.0.136.2 ≤ v < 6.6.1436.7 ≤ v < 6.12.947.17.1 rc17.1 rc27.1 rc37.1 rc47.1 rc57.1 rc6af308b94a2a4a5a27bec9028354c4df444a7c8ba
Vendor states this is fixed in 349df61526d2e39decc685d246202e3e284cfe05 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 55b79b1ae42372012413ce0413181d26679b17ef (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5e9ee18b27fde88cb6148202b33916c66693fe82 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 8767fe4079affa74314d7eb3220e700150289842 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 941d7394efda5e054e2d6f3e0dd0f6a9ba19aaa3 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in c32b26aaa2f9216520a38b3f4bfeec846eb3eb8a (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f9a0e4b61054cde89a2a77845293c726cc07cc43 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in fda6573a46ad24f35348e024905ee5bdf729797e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.19 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.259 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.210 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.176 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.94 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.36 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.143 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.0.13 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1 (unaffected)

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.8HIGHLinux
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-416

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