Local system hang via nf_tables lock inversion
Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026
Deadlock in Linux Kernel nf_tables allows local users to hang the system by running concurrent nft, ipset, and iptables-nft operations. The nf_tables reset path acquires commit_mutex across dump-and-reset handling, creating a circular dependency with nfnl_subsys_ipset and nlk_cb_mutex. Exploitation requires local privileges and simultaneous nft reset, ipset list, and iptables-nft -m set activity; the bounded consequence is loss of availability.
Summary
What happened
Deadlock in Linux Kernel nf_tables allows local users to hang the system by running concurrent nft, ipset, and iptables-nft operations. The nf_tables reset path acquires commit_mutex across dump-and-reset handling, creating a circular dependency with nfnl_subsys_ipset and nlk_cb_mutex. Exploitation requires local privileges and simultaneous nft reset, ipset list, and iptables-nft -m set activity; the bounded consequence is loss of availability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-45901
- Published
- May 27, 2026
- Updated
- May 27, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 27, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=3cb03edb4de33fd04c4ea55f47397b96a8657c53 <7f261bb906bf527c4a6e2a646e2d5f3679f2a8bc
- Affected versionversion=3cb03edb4de33fd04c4ea55f47397b96a8657c53 <ee3978b6a0dcd4215cb7cedcba705a12174786a7
- Affected versionversion=6.1.107 <6.2
- Affected versionversion=6.6.48 <6.7
- Affected versionversion=6.7
- Affected versionversion=f123293db16dcd0cd81b246ae60e6362f0025d0a
- Affected versionversion=fb1adb05ea87b6149e65a31e511756c4f470d0cd
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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