CVE-2026-23111Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via inverted activity check

Published Feb 13, 2026 · Updated Feb 13, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel nf_tables allows local users to gain root privileges through aborted nftables transactions. In nft_map_catchall_activate(), an inverted activity test skips inactive catchall elements during rollback, preventing restoration of NFT_GOTO chain references until a referenced chain is freed. Exploitation requires CONFIG_USER_NS and CONFIG_NF_TABLES; successful reuse of the freed chain grants kernel-context code execution and root privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel nf_tables allows local users to gain root privileges through aborted nftables transactions. In nft_map_catchall_activate(), an inverted activity test skips inactive catchall elements during rollback, preventing restoration of NFT_GOTO chain references until a referenced chain is freed. Exploitation requires CONFIG_USER_NS and CONFIG_NF_TABLES; successful reuse of the freed chain grants kernel-context code execution and root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23111
Published
Feb 13, 2026
Updated
Feb 13, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=25aa2ad37c2162be1c0bc4fe6397f7e4c13f00f8 <8c760ba4e36c750379d13569f23f5a6e185333f5
  2. Affected versionversion=3c7ec098e3b588434a8b07ea9b5b36f04cef1f50
  3. Affected versionversion=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <1444ff890b4653add12f734ffeffc173d42862dd
  4. Affected versionversion=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <42c574c1504aa089a0a142e4c13859327570473d
  5. Affected versionversion=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <8b68a45f9722f2babe9e7bad00aa74638addf081
  6. Affected versionversion=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <f41c5d151078c5348271ffaf8e7410d96f2d82f8
  7. Affected versionversion=6.4
  8. Affected versionversion=a136b7942ad2a50de708f76ea299ccb45ac7a7f9
  9. Affected versionversion=bc9f791d2593f17e39f87c6e2b3a36549a3705b1
  10. Affected versionversion=d60be2da67d172aecf866302c91ea11533eca4d9 <b9b6573421de51829f7ec1cce76d85f5f6fbbd7f
  11. Affected versionversion=dc7cdf8cbcbf8b13de1df93f356ec04cdeef5c41

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=25aa2ad37c2162be1c0bc4fe6397f7e4c13f00f8 <8c760ba4e36c750379d13569f23f5a6e185333f5; version=3c7ec098e3b588434a8b07ea9b5b36f04cef1f50; version=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <1444ff890b4653add12f734ffeffc173d42862dd; version=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <42c574c1504aa089a0a142e4c13859327570473d; version=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <8b68a45f9722f2babe9e7bad00aa74638addf081; version=628bd3e49cba1c066228e23d71a852c23e26da73 <f41c5d151078c5348271ffaf8e7410d96f2d82f8; version=6.4; version=a136b7942ad2a50de708f76ea299ccb45ac7a7f9; version=bc9f791d2593f17e39f87c6e2b3a36549a3705b1; version=d60be2da67d172aecf866302c91ea11533eca4d9 <b9b6573421de51829f7ec1cce76d85f5f6fbbd7f; version=dc7cdf8cbcbf8b13de1df93f356ec04cdeef5c41

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo