CVE-2026-53218
Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Heap Out-of-Bounds Write in Linux Kernel Netfilter nft_exthdr

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-53218, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-06-25

Last updated on: 2026-07-02

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_exthdr: fix register tracking for F_PRESENT flag nft_exthdr_init() passes user-controlled priv->len to nft_parse_register_store(), which marks that many bytes in the register bitmap as initialized. However, when NFT_EXTHDR_F_PRESENT is set, the eval paths write only 1 byte (nft_reg_store8) or 4 bytes (*dest = 0 on TCP/DCCP error path). When len > 4, registers beyond the first are never written, retaining uninitialized stack data from nft_regs. Bail out if userspace requests too much data when F_PRESENT is set.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-06-25
Last Modified
2026-07-02
Generated
2026-07-15
AI Q&A
2026-06-25
EPSS Evaluated
2026-07-14
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 14 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel From 5.16 (inc) to 6.1.176 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.2 (inc) to 6.6.143 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.11 (inc) to 5.15.210 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.13 (inc) to 6.18.36 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.7 (inc) to 6.12.94 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.19 (inc) to 7.0.13 (exc)
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel 7.1
linux linux_kernel From 4.11 (inc) to 5.10.259 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-908 The product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's netfilter nft_exthdr component. Specifically, the function nft_exthdr_init() passes a user-controlled length value to nft_parse_register_store(), which marks that many bytes in a register bitmap as initialized. However, when the NFT_EXTHDR_F_PRESENT flag is set, only 1 or 4 bytes are actually written during evaluation, depending on the path. If the length is greater than 4, registers beyond the first few remain uninitialized, potentially exposing uninitialized stack data from nft_regs.

The fix involves bailing out if userspace requests too much data when the F_PRESENT flag is set, preventing the use of uninitialized data.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can lead to the exposure of uninitialized stack data from the nft_regs structure. Since uninitialized data may contain sensitive information, an attacker could potentially access or leak this data, leading to information disclosure.

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