Firewall verdict manipulation via mixed-mode hashtable reuse
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Uninitialized memory access in the Linux kernel allows local users to read stale kernel data and manipulate firewall match verdicts. xt_hashlimit reuses a named hashtable across standard and rate-match rules without checking their incompatible union layouts, so hashlimit_mt_common reads an uninitialized burst field and overwrites other rate state. Exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN and conflicting rules in one network namespace; effects remain confined to stale slab-data exposure and incorrect packet classification in that namespace.
Summary
What happened
Uninitialized memory access in the Linux kernel allows local users to read stale kernel data and manipulate firewall match verdicts. xt_hashlimit reuses a named hashtable across standard and rate-match rules without checking their incompatible union layouts, so hashlimit_mt_common reads an uninitialized burst field and overwrites other rate state. Exploitation requires CAP_NET_ADMIN and conflicting rules in one network namespace; effects remain confined to stale slab-data exposure and incorrect packet classification in that namespace.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74564
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1562.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 15, 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=4.14
- Affected versionversion=bea74641e3786d51dcf1175527cc1781420961c9 <06a76334243ccd875a981aa8bb46c0f931ef1e3b
- Affected versionversion=bea74641e3786d51dcf1175527cc1781420961c9 <24683fea1f06bd3bd2707b99460e859bc6464c22
- Affected versionversion=bea74641e3786d51dcf1175527cc1781420961c9 <305b63e1402267459fdabb183af4527f6799eebf
- Affected versionversion=bea74641e3786d51dcf1175527cc1781420961c9 <32ec8d4aba2cf22e12bdc28df8c4bd833c195fc0
- Affected versionversion=bea74641e3786d51dcf1175527cc1781420961c9 <d186f77d18bdfb252d401ff992ca3001a6a65a0f
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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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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