CVE-2026-72416

Received Received - Intake

Netfilter ebtables emulation improper target validation

Publication date: 2026-08-15

Last updated on: 2026-08-17

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_compat: ebtables emulation must reject non-bridge targets xtables targets return netfilter verdicts: NF_ACCEPT, NF_DROP, and so on. ebtables targets return incompatible verdicts: EBT_ACCEPT, EBT_DROP, ... We cannot allow fallback to NFPROTO_UNSPEC. ebtables doesn't permit this since 11ff7288beb2 ("netfilter: ebtables: reject non-bridge targets") but that commit missed the nft_compat layer.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published

2026-08-15

Last Modified

2026-08-17

Generated

2026-09-04

AI Q&A

2026-08-15

EPSS Evaluated

2026-09-03

NVD

CVE-2026-72416

EUVD

EUVD-2026-59315

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
netfilter	ebtables	*

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves a flaw in the nft_compat layer where ebtables emulation incorrectly allows non-bridge targets. ebtables targets return verdicts incompatible with netfilter, such as EBT_ACCEPT or EBT_DROP, which cannot be properly handled by the netfilter framework. This creates a security risk as it may lead to unexpected behavior in packet filtering.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's netfilter nft_compat layer and ebtables emulation. Detection requires checking kernel logs for nft_compat errors or examining ebtables rules for non-bridge targets. No direct commands are provided in the context to detect this issue.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass intended network traffic controls. Systems relying on ebtables or nft_compat for filtering might fail to enforce correct rules, potentially allowing unauthorized network access or traffic manipulation.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or similar standards. It is a Linux kernel issue related to netfilter and ebtables emulation, involving incorrect handling of verdicts in network filtering. No evidence suggests it impacts data protection or privacy compliance requirements.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version that includes the fix for CVE-2026-72416. Avoid using nft_compat for ebtables emulation until the patch is applied.

Hi! I’m here to help you understand CVE-2026-72416. Ask me anything about the vulnerability, its impact, or mitigation strategies.

0/70