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CVE Record

CVE-2024-42109: netfilter: nf_tables: unconditionally flush pending work before notifier

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: unconditionally flush pending work before notifier syzbot reports: KASAN: slab-uaf in nft_ctx_update include/net/netfilter/nf_tables.h:1831 KASAN: slab-uaf in nft_commit_release net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c:9530 KASAN: slab-uaf int nf_tables_trans_destroy_work+0x152b/0x1750 net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c:9597 Read of size 2 at addr ffff88802b0051c4 by task kworker/1:1/45 [..] Workqueue: events nf_tables_trans_destroy_work Call Trace: nft_ctx_update include/net/netfilter/nf_tables.h:1831 [inline] nft_commit_release net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c:9530 [inline] nf_tables_trans_destroy_work+0x152b/0x1750 net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c:9597 Problem is that the notifier does a conditional flush, but its possible that the table-to-be-removed is still referenced by transactions being processed by the worker, so we need to flush unconditionally. We could make the flush_work depend on whether we found a table to delete in nf-next to avoid the flush for most cases. AFAICS this problem is only exposed in nf-next, with commit e169285f8c56 ("netfilter: nf_tables: do not store nft_ctx in transaction objects"), with this commit applied there is an unconditional fetch of table->family which is whats triggering the above splat.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel netfilter flaw can access memory after it has been freed when nftables transactions and table removal overlap. A local, low-privileged attacker may be able to crash the system or compromise kernel-enforced confidentiality and integrity. The supplied record rates it 7.8 High, but provides no evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority local privilege-boundary issue, especially on shared or untrusted-user Linux systems. Patch through normal emergency kernel-maintenance procedures after vendor confirmation. Internet exposure alone does not establish reachability, and the supplied evidence does not show active exploitation.

Technical view

The nf_tables notifier conditionally flushed pending work, allowing a transaction-destruction worker to retain a reference to a table being removed. This produced a kernel slab use-after-free during nft_ctx_update and nft_commit_release. The kernel fix unconditionally flushes pending work before the notifier proceeds.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires a Linux kernel containing the vulnerable nf_tables code and local low-privileged access, according to the CVSS vector. The supplied affected-version data includes 6.5, 5.15.163, 6.1.98, 6.6.39, 6.9.9, and 6.10. Confirm distribution-specific backports because kernel version alone may be misleading.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector describes local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction, with potentially high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The bundle marks this CVE absent from KEV and cites no observed exploitation or public exploit. Do not treat the theoretical impact as proof of reliable compromise.

Researcher notes

The report attributes the fault to a race between notifier activity and asynchronous transaction cleanup. It also says the problem appeared exposed only in nf-next after commit e169285f8c56, while the supplied affected table lists released kernels. This tension makes distribution and backport verification important. No CWE classification or exploit reliability evidence is supplied.

Mitigation direction

  • Install the Linux kernel security update supplied by your operating-system vendor.
  • Confirm the installed package incorporates the applicable linked stable-kernel fix.
  • Prioritize multi-user systems where untrusted local users can interact with nftables.
  • Check vendor advisories for backports rather than relying only on the reported kernel version.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions and operating-system package revisions.
  • Compare each revision with vendor advisories and the linked stable-kernel commits.
  • Confirm patched systems booted into the updated kernel after installation.
  • Review kernel logs for KASAN use-after-free traces involving nf_tables transaction destruction.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2024-42109 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
7Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2024-42109Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf22954f8c58fd5f5489f5980796914e306757e77, 41841b585e53babdfb0fa6fdfa54f6d7c28c1206, 2c9f0293280e258606e54ed2b96fa71498432eae, 2c9f0293280e258606e54ed2b96fa71498432eae, 2c9f0293280e258606e54ed2b96fa71498432eae, 4167aa477abcf62b0dfda51f3513280fa73cd588, 5.15.129, 6.1.50, 6.4.13unaffected
LinuxLinux6.5, 0, 5.15.163, 6.1.98, 6.6.39, 6.9.9, 6.10affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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