LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2025-68206: netfilter: nft_ct: add seqadj extension for natted connections

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_ct: add seqadj extension for natted connections Sequence adjustment may be required for FTP traffic with PASV/EPSV modes. due to need to re-write packet payload (IP, port) on the ftp control connection. This can require changes to the TCP length and expected seq / ack_seq. The easiest way to reproduce this issue is with PASV mode. Example ruleset: table inet ftp_nat { ct helper ftp_helper { type "ftp" protocol tcp l3proto inet } chain prerouting { type filter hook prerouting priority 0; policy accept; tcp dport 21 ct state new ct helper set "ftp_helper" } } table ip nat { chain prerouting { type nat hook prerouting priority -100; policy accept; tcp dport 21 dnat ip prefix to ip daddr map { 192.168.100.1 : 192.168.13.2/32 } } chain postrouting { type nat hook postrouting priority 100 ; policy accept; tcp sport 21 snat ip prefix to ip saddr map { 192.168.13.2 : 192.168.100.1/32 } } } Note that the ftp helper gets assigned *after* the dnat setup. The inverse (nat after helper assign) is handled by an existing check in nf_nat_setup_info() and will not show the problem. Topoloy: +-------------------+ +----------------------------------+ | FTP: 192.168.13.2 | <-> | NAT: 192.168.13.3, 192.168.100.1 | +-------------------+ +----------------------------------+ | +-----------------------+ | Client: 192.168.100.2 | +-----------------------+ ftp nat changes do not work as expected in this case: Connected to 192.168.100.1. [..] ftp> epsv EPSV/EPRT on IPv4 off. ftp> ls 227 Entering passive mode (192,168,100,1,209,129). 421 Service not available, remote server has closed connection. Kernel logs: Missing nfct_seqadj_ext_add() setup call WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 0 at net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_seqadj.c:41 [..] __nf_nat_mangle_tcp_packet+0x100/0x160 [nf_nat] nf_nat_ftp+0x142/0x280 [nf_nat_ftp] help+0x4d1/0x880 [nf_conntrack_ftp] nf_confirm+0x122/0x2e0 [nf_conntrack] nf_hook_slow+0x3c/0xb0 .. Fix this by adding the required extension when a conntrack helper is assigned to a connection that has a nat binding.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux networking flaw can disrupt FTP transfers passing through certain nftables NAT gateways. When the FTP helper is assigned after NAT setup, required TCP sequence adjustments may be missing, causing connection failures and kernel warnings. The documented impact is service availability; the supplied evidence does not indicate data theft or modification.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority reliability issue for affected network gateways, not a universal Linux emergency. Promptly identify systems combining nftables NAT and FTP helpers, then patch exposed production gateways during the next expedited maintenance window. Lower priority is reasonable where FTP helpers are absent or the vendor confirms the kernel unaffected.

Technical view

The nft_ct path could attach a conntrack FTP helper to an already NAT-bound connection without adding the sequence-adjustment extension. Payload rewriting for PASV or EPSV can then change TCP lengths without corresponding sequence and acknowledgement correction. The resolved kernel change adds that extension when assigning a helper to a NAT-bound connection.

Likely exposure

Exposure is concentrated in Linux systems performing nftables NAT with conntrack FTP helpers, particularly where NAT binding precedes helper assignment. Internet-facing gateways, firewalls, appliances, and embedded products using affected kernels merit review. The supplied version list is ambiguous, so distribution and appliance advisories should determine exact exposure.

Exploitation context

The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.5, reflecting remotely reachable, unauthenticated availability impact. However, exploitation requires the specific FTP-helper and NAT configuration described. The bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and supplies no evidence of active exploitation, public weaponization, confidentiality loss, or integrity loss.

Researcher notes

The failure occurs when helper assignment follows NAT setup; the inverse ordering is reportedly already handled. The source demonstrates FTP control-channel rewriting failure and a kernel warning, not memory corruption or privilege escalation. Exact affected and fixed release boundaries cannot be safely inferred from the bundle's mixed version entries; confirm against maintained vendor branches and cited commits.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel update containing the applicable stable fix.
  • Prioritize NAT gateways and appliances that process FTP through conntrack helpers.
  • Consult distribution or appliance guidance to map backported fixes accurately.
  • If patching is delayed, seek vendor-approved configuration mitigations for the FTP helper and NAT path.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory kernel versions on systems providing nftables NAT or firewall services.
  • Identify configurations using conntrack FTP helpers with NAT-bound connections.
  • Check kernel logs for the documented missing seqadj warning and related stack trace.
  • Review monitoring for unexplained PASV or EPSV FTP failures.
  • Confirm the installed vendor kernel includes the applicable stable fix.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

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

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 · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-68206 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
1ADP providers
10Source links

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
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-68206Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818, 1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818, 1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818, 1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818, 1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818, 1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818, 1a64edf54f55d7956cf5a0d95898bc1f84f9b818unaffected
LinuxLinux4.12, 0, 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.167, 6.6.130, 6.12.64, 6.17.9, 6.18affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.