Use-after-free in Linux kernel act_ct helper after extension realloc
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 6.2 is affected. In the net/sched act_ct code, a raw pointer to the extensions area is kept in an expectations list, and later extension additions can reallocate that area, leaving the pointer dangling for use when the expectation is removed. A local user with low privileges can trigger this without user interaction, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: act_ct: fix helper UAF due to extensions realloc While calling the helpers, a raw pointer to the extensions area is wired into expectations list: -> nf_ct_helper() -> helper->help() -> nf_ct_expect_related_report() -> nf_ct_expect_insert() -> hlist_add_head_rcu(&exp->lnode, &master_help->expectations) In case the connection is not confirmed yet, more extensions can be added afterwards with *_ext_add() calls reallocating the extension space and leaving the now invalid pointer in the expectations list that is later accessed while removing the expectation. Make sure that helpers are called at the end after all the other extensions are already added. Note that the helper rejection now leaves the mark and labels set, but that's not different from how the NAT was handled before or how the mark and the labels were handled on confirmation failure. And there are no atomicity guarantees provided by the API anyway.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
The fixed Linux kernel versions are 6.6.160, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 and 7.3. Red Hat's plan for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 and 10, and OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5, is none_available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.160, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. 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 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98442
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-cqvg-rqhw-9mqj
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-20 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-20 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 Fix available: Linux/Linux@31f5fe29a572037ee19c233dfe506849940c484b, Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-21 1 new reference · CNA
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · CNA
- 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/31f5fe29a572037ee19c233dfe506849940c484b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1679bbf5fbeac52a310b1a58b2b301bbf388bdbf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/812c16a255e7773a544e88b39ae6daed25544d30
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8988f4d11f3fba0ab38122178836c683ad516a05
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dad19b59da050cb60d3f7023dac2a042a84bf0bd
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98442 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98442 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-cqvg-rqhw-9mqj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98442 · 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