netfilter: xt_policy: fix strict mode inbound policy matching
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · Low · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 9 fixed, 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: xt_policy: fix strict mode inbound policy matching match_policy_in() walks sec_path entries from the last transform to the first one, but strict policy matching needs to consume info->pol[] in the same forward order as the rule layout. Derive the strict-match policy position from the number of transforms already consumed so that multi-element inbound rules are matched consistently.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.17 and later | 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.141, 6.12.91, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.17 and later Fixed in 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.141, 6.12.91, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.17 to before 5.10.258; 5.11 to before 5.15.209; 5.16 to before 6.1.175; 6.2 to before 6.6.141; 6.7 to before 6.12.91; 6.13 to before 6.18.33; 6.19 to before 7.0.10 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.17 to before 5.10.258; 5.11 to before 5.15.209; 5.16 to before 6.1.175; 6.2 to before 6.6.141; 6.7 to before 6.12.91; 6.13 to before 6.18.33; 6.19 to before 7.0.10 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.141, 6.12.91, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2026:68531 Released 2026-09-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.164.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.164.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.164.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.164.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2026:68532 Released 2026-09-17 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.164.1.rt7.505.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.164.1.rt7.505.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.164.1.rt7.505.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.164.1.rt7.505.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.164.1.rt7.505.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.164.1.rt7.505.el8_10 +7
- RHSA-2026:59723 Released 2026-08-26 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.42.1.el9_8 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59723 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:68531 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59723 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:68531 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59723 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:68532 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:68532 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59723 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:59723 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-52920
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qgcc-gwgq-pq62
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eb323f7b82d2e2f638de0cc2a177803eb20e0707
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc1c518bb1f054831ecabb32da9b8e1dff9699c6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f98b7f85e04b40e28b08c461ded0cc79f14f5509
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/82664d0f1ba25e4f9a71994954abae24c60f4067
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b130a6eefa02bd4d475f2f059da8bcfb3e7d18d9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/938867e870fb5471bb16f442aeac81326e05bf65
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/392cc1d8408b5665215c1e9290bbf0f92339b043
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4b2b4d7d4e203c92db8966b163edfacb1f0e1e29
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-52920 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-52920 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qgcc-gwgq-pq62 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-52920 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences