In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: ctnetlink: zero expect NAT fields when CTA_EXPECT_NAT absent

ctnetlink_alloc_expect() allocates expectations from a non-zeroing
slab cache via nf_ct_expect_alloc(). When CTA_EXPECT_NAT is not
present in the netlink message, saved_addr and saved_proto are
never initialized. Stale data from a previous slab occupant can
then be dumped to userspace by ctnetlink_exp_dump_expect(), which
checks these fields to decide whether to emit CTA_EXPECT_NAT.

The safe sibling nf_ct_expect_init(), used by the packet path,
explicitly zeroes these fields.

Zero saved_addr, saved_proto and dir in the else branch, guarded
by IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NF_NAT) since these fields only exist when
NAT is enabled.

Confirmed by priming the expect slab with NAT-bearing expectations,
freeing them, creating a new expectation without CTA_EXPECT_NAT,
and observing that the ctnetlink dump emits a spurious
CTA_EXPECT_NAT containing stale data from the prior allocation.

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Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6243-1 linux security update
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Sat, 02 May 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-824
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 01 May 2026 14:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: ctnetlink: zero expect NAT fields when CTA_EXPECT_NAT absent ctnetlink_alloc_expect() allocates expectations from a non-zeroing slab cache via nf_ct_expect_alloc(). When CTA_EXPECT_NAT is not present in the netlink message, saved_addr and saved_proto are never initialized. Stale data from a previous slab occupant can then be dumped to userspace by ctnetlink_exp_dump_expect(), which checks these fields to decide whether to emit CTA_EXPECT_NAT. The safe sibling nf_ct_expect_init(), used by the packet path, explicitly zeroes these fields. Zero saved_addr, saved_proto and dir in the else branch, guarded by IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NF_NAT) since these fields only exist when NAT is enabled. Confirmed by priming the expect slab with NAT-bearing expectations, freeing them, creating a new expectation without CTA_EXPECT_NAT, and observing that the ctnetlink dump emits a spurious CTA_EXPECT_NAT containing stale data from the prior allocation.
Title netfilter: ctnetlink: zero expect NAT fields when CTA_EXPECT_NAT absent
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-01T14:15:27.854Z

Reserved: 2026-05-01T14:12:55.976Z

Link: CVE-2026-43026

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-05-01T15:16:47.033

Modified: 2026-05-01T15:24:14.893

Link: CVE-2026-43026

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-43026 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-01T18:30:05Z

Weaknesses