CVE-2026-23272

Local privilege escalation via premature RCU removal

Published Mar 20, 2026 · Updated Mar 20, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel nf_tables allows local users to gain elevated privileges by inserting an element into a full set. nf_tables_api.c publishes the new element, then removes it on the full-set error path without waiting for an RCU grace period while readers can still traverse it. A low-privileged local account must reach nf_tables set insertion; successful reuse of the freed object compromises kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel nf_tables allows local users to gain elevated privileges by inserting an element into a full set. nf_tables_api.c publishes the new element, then removes it on the full-set error path without waiting for an RCU grace period while readers can still traverse it. A low-privileged local account must reach nf_tables set insertion; successful reuse of the freed object compromises kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23272
Published
Mar 20, 2026
Updated
Mar 20, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=35d0ac9070ef619e3bf44324375878a1c540387b <6826131c7674329335ca25df2550163eb8a1fd0c
  2. Affected versionversion=35d0ac9070ef619e3bf44324375878a1c540387b <ccb8c8f3c1127cf34d18c737309897c68046bf21
  3. Affected versionversion=35d0ac9070ef619e3bf44324375878a1c540387b <def602e498a4f951da95c95b1b8ce8ae68aa733a
  4. Affected versionversion=4.10
  5. Affected versionversion=fefdd79403e89b0c673965343b92e2e01e2713a8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=35d0ac9070ef619e3bf44324375878a1c540387b <6826131c7674329335ca25df2550163eb8a1fd0c; version=35d0ac9070ef619e3bf44324375878a1c540387b <ccb8c8f3c1127cf34d18c737309897c68046bf21; version=35d0ac9070ef619e3bf44324375878a1c540387b <def602e498a4f951da95c95b1b8ce8ae68aa733a; version=4.10; version=fefdd79403e89b0c673965343b92e2e01e2713a8

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS: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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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