CVE-2026-43451

Kernel memory exhaustion via leaked queue entries

Published May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

Memory leak in Linux Kernel netfilter queue handling allows local users to exhaust kernel memory via malformed bridge VLAN verdicts. In nfqnl_recv_verdict(), an nfqa_parse_bridge() failure returns after find_dequeue_entry() without freeing the owned nf_queue_entry, sk_buff, or held references. Local users with netfilter queue access can repeat the error path until kernel memory exhaustion interrupts service.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
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

Memory leak in Linux Kernel netfilter queue handling allows local users to exhaust kernel memory via malformed bridge VLAN verdicts. In nfqnl_recv_verdict(), an nfqa_parse_bridge() failure returns after find_dequeue_entry() without freeing the owned nf_queue_entry, sk_buff, or held references. Local users with netfilter queue access can repeat the error path until kernel memory exhaustion interrupts service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43451
Published
May 8, 2026
Updated
May 8, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 8, 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=4.7
  2. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <0b18d1b834ab5a5009be70b530f978d7989e445b
  3. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <208669df703a25a601f45822b10c413f258bf275
  4. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <47b1c5d1b0944aa88299f55a846fabaefc756982
  5. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <9853d94b82d303fc4ac37d592a23a154096ecd41
  6. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <a907bea273b60d3e604ec4e8e1f6c49954805794
  7. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <b38d2b4603fd3dda24eb8b3dd81c18a0930be97b
  8. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <cf4a4df38d1747e06fc54f9879bd7a6f4178032f
  9. Affected versionversion=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <f1ba83755d81c6fc66ac7acd723d238f974091e9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=4.7; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <0b18d1b834ab5a5009be70b530f978d7989e445b; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <208669df703a25a601f45822b10c413f258bf275; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <47b1c5d1b0944aa88299f55a846fabaefc756982; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <9853d94b82d303fc4ac37d592a23a154096ecd41; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <a907bea273b60d3e604ec4e8e1f6c49954805794; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <b38d2b4603fd3dda24eb8b3dd81c18a0930be97b; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <cf4a4df38d1747e06fc54f9879bd7a6f4178032f; version=8d45ff22f1b43249f0cf1baafe0262ca10d1666e <f1ba83755d81c6fc66ac7acd723d238f974091e9

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499.001OS Exhaustion Flood

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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