In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netfilter: cttimeout: detach dataplane timeout policy and repurpose refcount
Add a refcount for struct nf_ct_timeout which is used by ct extension to
set the custom ct timeout policy, this tells us that the ct timeout is
being used by a conntrack entry. When the last conntrack entry drops the
refcount on the ct timeout, the ct timeout is released.
Remove the refcount for control plane which controls if the ruleset
refers to the timeout policy. After this update, it is possible to
remove the ct timeout policy from nfnetlink_cttimeout immediately.
This is for simplicity not to handle two refcounts on a single object.
Remove nf_queue_nf_hook_drop(): a packet sitting in nfqueue will just
hold a reference to the nf_ct_timeout object until packet is reinjected,
since this is part of the ct extension, this will be released by the
time the conntrack is freed.
nf_ct_untimeout() is still called to clean up in a best effort basis:
the ct timeout on existing entries gets removed when the ct timeout goes
away, but as long as the iptables ruleset still refers to the ct timeout
through a template, new conntracks may keep attaching it and extend its
lifetime until the rule is removed.
nf_ct_untimeout() is not called anymore from module removal path, this
is unlikely to find timeouts give module refcount is bumped, and the new
refcount already tracks the ct timeout policy use so it is released when
unused.
netfilter: cttimeout: detach dataplane timeout policy and repurpose refcount
Add a refcount for struct nf_ct_timeout which is used by ct extension to
set the custom ct timeout policy, this tells us that the ct timeout is
being used by a conntrack entry. When the last conntrack entry drops the
refcount on the ct timeout, the ct timeout is released.
Remove the refcount for control plane which controls if the ruleset
refers to the timeout policy. After this update, it is possible to
remove the ct timeout policy from nfnetlink_cttimeout immediately.
This is for simplicity not to handle two refcounts on a single object.
Remove nf_queue_nf_hook_drop(): a packet sitting in nfqueue will just
hold a reference to the nf_ct_timeout object until packet is reinjected,
since this is part of the ct extension, this will be released by the
time the conntrack is freed.
nf_ct_untimeout() is still called to clean up in a best effort basis:
the ct timeout on existing entries gets removed when the ct timeout goes
away, but as long as the iptables ruleset still refers to the ct timeout
through a template, new conntracks may keep attaching it and extend its
lifetime until the rule is removed.
nf_ct_untimeout() is not called anymore from module removal path, this
is unlikely to find timeouts give module refcount is bumped, and the new
refcount already tracks the ct timeout policy use so it is released when
unused.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: cttimeout: detach dataplane timeout policy and repurpose refcount Add a refcount for struct nf_ct_timeout which is used by ct extension to set the custom ct timeout policy, this tells us that the ct timeout is being used by a conntrack entry. When the last conntrack entry drops the refcount on the ct timeout, the ct timeout is released. Remove the refcount for control plane which controls if the ruleset refers to the timeout policy. After this update, it is possible to remove the ct timeout policy from nfnetlink_cttimeout immediately. This is for simplicity not to handle two refcounts on a single object. Remove nf_queue_nf_hook_drop(): a packet sitting in nfqueue will just hold a reference to the nf_ct_timeout object until packet is reinjected, since this is part of the ct extension, this will be released by the time the conntrack is freed. nf_ct_untimeout() is still called to clean up in a best effort basis: the ct timeout on existing entries gets removed when the ct timeout goes away, but as long as the iptables ruleset still refers to the ct timeout through a template, new conntracks may keep attaching it and extend its lifetime until the rule is removed. nf_ct_untimeout() is not called anymore from module removal path, this is unlikely to find timeouts give module refcount is bumped, and the new refcount already tracks the ct timeout policy use so it is released when unused. | |
| Title | netfilter: cttimeout: detach dataplane timeout policy and repurpose refcount | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
Sign in to view the affected projects.
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-08-15T05:58:35.287Z
Reserved: 2026-08-15T05:44:03.886Z
Link: CVE-2026-74347
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-08-15T06:22:35.860
Modified: 2026-08-15T06:22:35.860
Link: CVE-2026-74347
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.