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CVE Record

CVE-2026-23351: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo: split gc into unlink and reclaim phase

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo: split gc into unlink and reclaim phase Yiming Qian reports Use-after-free in the pipapo set type: Under a large number of expired elements, commit-time GC can run for a very long time in a non-preemptible context, triggering soft lockup warnings and RCU stall reports (local denial of service). We must split GC in an unlink and a reclaim phase. We cannot queue elements for freeing until pointers have been swapped. Expired elements are still exposed to both the packet path and userspace dumpers via the live copy of the data structure. call_rcu() does not protect us: dump operations or element lookups starting after call_rcu has fired can still observe the free'd element, unless the commit phase has made enough progress to swap the clone and live pointers before any new reader has picked up the old version. This a similar approach as done recently for the rbtree backend in commit 35f83a75529a ("netfilter: nft_set_rbtree: don't gc elements on insert").

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel netfilter nftables bug can leave freed set elements visible to packet processing or userspace readers. A local authenticated user may be able to destabilize the host, and CVSS rates confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact as high.

Executive priority

Patch through normal high-priority kernel maintenance, faster for shared Linux infrastructure and industrial products cited by Siemens. No source proves active exploitation, but kernel memory-safety bugs have meaningful operational risk.

Technical view

The issue is in nft_set_pipapo garbage collection. Expired elements were reclaimed before commit swapped clone/live pointers, so later lookups or dumps could observe freed memory. The kernel fix separates unlink and reclaim phases.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using nftables pipapo sets, especially multi-user hosts or appliances allowing local users. Distribution backports may alter version checks.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation. The CVSS vector is local, low complexity, low privilege, no user interaction.

Researcher notes

Do not rely only on upstream version numbers because vendors often backport fixes. The source description emphasizes local denial of service from UAF/RCU timing, while CVSS also rates confidentiality and integrity high.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply vendor kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported patched kernel builds.
  • Review Siemens advisories if operating affected Siemens products.
  • Prioritize shared, multi-user, container-host, and appliance kernels.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions and vendor build identifiers.
  • Confirm whether nftables pipapo set functionality is present or used.
  • Map installed kernels to vendor advisories or referenced stable commits.
  • Check logs for soft lockups, RCU stalls, or unusual local crashes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

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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CVE-2026-23351 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
1ADP providers
11Source 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
7.8CVSS 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-2026-23351Attack 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

siemens-SADPADP container
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173da, 3c4287f62044a90e73a561aa05fc46e62da173daunaffected
LinuxLinux5.6, 0, 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.167, 6.6.130, 6.12.77, 6.18.17, 6.19.7, 7.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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