Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel flaw affects the nf_tables firewall subsystem. A locally authenticated, low-privilege attacker could potentially compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability without user interaction. It is not remotely exploitable according to the supplied CVSS vector, but successful exploitation could have serious host-level consequences.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority local privilege-boundary issue. Patch exposed multi-user and untrusted-workload systems first, then other affected Linux assets through normal expedited maintenance. Immediate emergency action is less justified without evidence of active exploitation or remote reachability.
Technical view
The kernel accepted an unsupported combination: an anonymous nf_tables set with the timeout flag. The resolution rejects that combination while retaining NFT_SET_EVAL compatibility for legacy meters. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Likely exposure
Prioritize Linux systems running kernel versions identified as affected by their distribution or appliance vendor, particularly multi-user hosts and systems executing untrusted workloads. The supplied version metadata is not sufficiently clear for reliable package-level determination, so upstream version strings alone should not decide exposure.
Exploitation context
The supplied bundle provides no evidence of active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The CVSS vector requires local access and low privileges, limiting direct remote exposure. However, the stated high impacts make it relevant to privilege-boundary and post-compromise risk assessments.
Researcher notes
The source establishes the invalid nf_tables flag combination and compatibility exception, but does not describe the underlying memory-safety mechanism or demonstrate exploitation. Affected-version metadata is ambiguous and should not be extrapolated beyond vendor determinations. Avoid asserting a specific exploit primitive without additional authoritative evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Install a vendor-supported kernel update that includes the CVE-2024-26642 correction.
- Consult distribution or appliance guidance for exact fixed package versions.
- Reboot into the updated kernel where required by vendor instructions.
- Restrict unnecessary local accounts and untrusted workload access until remediation is complete.
Validation and detection
- Inventory running kernel and vendor package versions across Linux systems.
- Compare each package against the distribution or appliance vendor's CVE guidance.
- Confirm the corrected kernel is active after maintenance or reboot.
- Review scanners for package-aware results rather than relying solely on upstream version matching.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2024-26642 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e4988d8415bd0294d6f9f4a1e7095f8b50a97ca9CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e9a0d3f376eb356d54ffce36e7cc37514cbfbd6fCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fe40ffbca19dc70d7c6b1e3c77b9ccb404c57351CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cdc1be24cc1bcd56a3e89ac4aef20e31ad09199CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72c1efe3f247a581667b7d368fff3bd9a03cd57aCVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0c2176d1814b92ea4c8e7eb7c9cd94cd99c1b12CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8e07c16695583a66e81f67ce4c46e94dece47ba7CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/16603605b667b70da974bea8216c93e7db043bf1CVE reference, Linux
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00017.htmlCVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00020.htmlCVE reference, CVE · x_transferred
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-265688.htmlCVE reference, siemens-SADP
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.