CVE-2026-43116General(linux / linux_kernel)

LOWCVSS 7.8 · HIGH

Signal is active with 1 mentions in latest observed window

Immediate actions

  • Patch linux linux_kernel systems immediately

Recommended action window: Monitor and triage in normal cycle

NVD description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: ctnetlink: ensure safe access to master conntrack Holding reference on the expectation is not sufficient, the master conntrack object can just go away, making exp->master invalid. To access exp->master safely: - Grab the nf_conntrack_expect_lock, this gets serialized with clean_from_lists() which also holds this lock when the master conntrack goes away. - Hold reference on master conntrack via nf_conntrack_find_get(). Not so easy since the master tuple to look up for the master conntrack is not available in the existing problematic paths. This patch goes for extending the nf_conntrack_expect_lock section to address this issue for simplicity, in the cases that are described below this is just slightly extending the lock section. The add expectation command already holds a reference to the master conntrack from ctnetlink_create_expect(). However, the delete expectation command needs to grab the spinlock before looking up for the expectation. Expand the existing spinlock section to address this to cover the expectation lookup. Note that, the nf_ct_expect_iterate_net() calls already grabs the spinlock while iterating over the expectation table, which is correct. The get expectation command needs to grab the spinlock to ensure master conntrack does not go away. This also expands the existing spinlock section to cover the expectation lookup too. I needed to move the netlink skb allocation out of the spinlock to keep it GFP_KERNEL. For the expectation events, the IPEXP_DESTROY event is already delivered under the spinlock, just move the delivery of IPEXP_NEW under the spinlock too because the master conntrack event cache is reached through exp->master. While at it, add lockdep notations to help identify what codepaths need to grab the spinlock.

0.5/ 10 priority

Sources & remediation

Weakness type (CWE)
CWE-362

Priority

LOW

Exploitation

NONE

PoC

NONE

Patch

AVAILABLE

Momentum

STABLE

Are you affected?

If you run products in this scope, you should treat this CVE as relevant to your environment.

  • linux_kernel

Threat summary

  • Patch or workaround signal is available
  • 2 mentions across 2 observed days
  • Momentum state: stable

What's happening

  • Patch or workaround mentioned in 1 signal
  • Technical details provided in 1 signal
  • General: 1 classified signal
  • Peaked 1d ago at 1 mentions (2026-05-06); latest day: 1
  • 2 total mentions across 2 days

Affected systems

Vendors
Products
linux_kernel

1 version affected across 1 product

Deep dive

Activity timeline2 mentions / 2d
00111Mentions · 2026-05-06: 1Mentions · 2026-05-07: 1Patch / Workaround · 2026-05-07: 1Technical Details · 2026-05-07: 105-0605-07
Signal classification2 categories
General
150.0%
Patch
150.0%
Referenced assets3 URLs
Classification over time
DateTotalLabels
2026-05-061
General1
2026-05-071
Patch1
Full discourse2 posts
  • WindowsForum@windowsforum
    Patch

    🪲 CVE-2026-43116 fixes a netfilter conntrack expectation lock bug. Not sexy RCE, but it’s the firewall/containers plumbing. Translation: your “secure” traffic filters still had weak joints. #Linux #Security #WindowsForum https://windowsforum.com/threads/cve-2026-43116-netfilter-ctnetlink-conntrack-expectation-locking-fix.416726/?utm_source=x&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news_node84 #PatchManagement https://t.co/ZLXVQdtDPD

    Post summary

    The tweet discusses the CVE-2026-43116 bug, provides technical details, and references a fix, but does not mention a PoC, active exploitation, or false positives.

    0000042
    1.1K followersView on X
  • Vulmon Vulnerability Feed@VulmonFeeds
    General

    CVE-2026-43116 Linux Kernel Netfilter Conntrack Master Reference Safety Issue Re... https://vulmon.com/vulnerabilitydetails?qid=CVE-2026-43116 Vulnerability Alert Subscriptions: https://alerts.vulmon.com/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2102281&utm_content=1

    Post summary

    A brief announcement referencing CVE-2026-43116 with minimal details and no evidence of exploitation, patch, or PoC.

    0000049
    4.0K followersView on X
CPE platform detail6 entries

6 of 6 entries

PartVendorProductVersionTarget SWTarget HW
OSlinuxlinux_kernel---
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--
OSlinuxlinux_kernel7.0--

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