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CVE Record

CVE-2026-43114: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo_avx2: don't return non-matching entry on expiry

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo_avx2: don't return non-matching entry on expiry New test case fails unexpectedly when avx2 matching functions are used. The test first loads a ranomly generated pipapo set with 'ipv4 . port' key, i.e. nft -f foo. This works. Then, it reloads the set after a flush: (echo flush set t s; cat foo) | nft -f - This is expected to work, because its the same set after all and it was already loaded once. But with avx2, this fails: nft reports a clashing element. The reported clash is of following form: We successfully re-inserted a . b c . d Then we try to insert a . d avx2 finds the already existing a . d, which (due to 'flush set') is marked as invalid in the new generation. It skips the element and moves to next. Due to incorrect masking, the skip-step finds the next matching element *only considering the first field*, i.e. we return the already reinserted "a . b", even though the last field is different and the entry should not have been matched. No such error is reported for the generic c implementation (no avx2) or when the last field has to use the 'nft_pipapo_avx2_lookup_slow' fallback. Bisection points to 7711f4bb4b36 ("netfilter: nft_set_pipapo: fix range overlap detection") but that fix merely uncovers this bug. Before this commit, the wrong element is returned, but erronously reported as a full, identical duplicate. The root-cause is too early return in the avx2 match functions. When we process the last field, we should continue to process data until the entire input size has been consumed to make sure no stale bits remain in the map.

CriticalCVSS 9.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel netfilter nftables bug in the AVX2-optimized pipapo set matching path. Under specific set reload and expiry/generation conditions, the kernel can return the wrong set element. The record rates it critical, but the supplied sources do not show active exploitation or a complete real-world attack path.

Executive priority

Treat this as high-priority kernel maintenance for Linux systems enforcing network controls with nftables. The rating is critical, but available evidence does not prove active exploitation. Patch through normal emergency kernel channels where exposure is confirmed.

Technical view

The AVX2 pipapo matcher may return too early when processing the last field, leaving stale map bits and matching only part of a concatenated key. This can report a non-matching, expired, or invalid-generation entry as a clash. Generic C matching and some slow-path AVX2 cases are not described as affected.

Likely exposure

Linux systems using nftables/netfilter pipapo sets with AVX2 matching are the relevant exposure group. Practical exposure appears narrower than all Linux hosts because the described failure depends on pipapo sets, concatenated keys, and generation or expiry behavior. Confirm affected kernel builds against vendor advisories.

Exploitation context

The CVE is not marked KEV, and the provided sources do not cite active exploitation. The CVSS vector reports network reachability with no privileges, but the bundled technical description focuses on incorrect matching during nftables set handling, not a weaponized exploit chain.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on nft_set_pipapo_avx2 behavior, generation invalidation, expiry handling, and concatenated key matching. The source notes bisection to 7711f4bb4b36 as an uncovering change, not the root cause. Avoid assuming impact beyond the CVSS and kernel description.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes when available for your distribution.
  • Check Red Hat or distribution advisories for package status and backported fixes.
  • Prioritize systems relying on nftables sets for network security enforcement.
  • Review nftables pipapo set usage where AVX2-capable CPUs are deployed.
  • If no vendor fix is available, follow vendor guidance for temporary controls.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions and map them to vendor CVE status.
  • Identify hosts using nftables sets with concatenated keys or pipapo behavior.
  • Confirm whether deployed kernels include one of the referenced stable commits.
  • Check security monitoring for nftables rule reload failures or unexpected set clashes.
  • Track CVE-2026-43114 in distribution security advisories until closed.
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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cwe · low confidence lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-43114 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.4 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
1ADP providers
12Source links

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

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
9.4CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L3.95.5Linux
8.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N2.85.2redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.4Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-43114Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

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

ADP provider summaries

redhat-SADPkernel: netfilter: nft_set_pipapo_avx2: don't return non-matching entry on expiry
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-05-06T00:00:00.000Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-05-06T00:00:00.000Z: Made public.
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1, 7400b063969bdca4a06cd97f1294d765c8eecbe1unaffected
LinuxLinux5.7, 0, 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.136, 6.12.83, 6.18.24, 6.19.14, 7.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

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

CWE-480 · source CWE mapping

Use of Incorrect Operator

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