Local privilege escalation via bound-chain rule removal
Published Sep 26, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025
Use-after-free in Linux kernel nf_tables 5.9 through 6.5 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through rule transactions. Deletion paths in nf_tables_api.c mistake binding chains for currently bound chains and permit rules to be removed within the transaction that adds them, leaving later code to use freed memory. Low-privileged local access is required; successful abuse executes arbitrary code with kernel privileges, while failed attempts can crash the system.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel nf_tables 5.9 through 6.5 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through rule transactions. Deletion paths in nf_tables_api.c mistake binding chains for currently bound chains and permit rules to be removed within the transaction that adds them, leaving later code to use freed memory. Low-privileged local access is required; successful abuse executes arbitrary code with kernel privileges, while failed attempts can crash the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-5197
- Published
- Sep 26, 2023
- Updated
- Feb 13, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 26, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 13, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=5.9 <6.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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