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Response snapshot Nov 6, 2026, 17:11 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-43027

Linux kernel: netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup nf_conntrack_helper_unregister() calls nf_ct_expect_iterate_destroy() to remove expectations belonging to the helper being unregistered.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.8 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2026-43027 (opens a new tab)

What happened

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup

nf_conntrack_helper_unregister() calls nf_ct_expect_iterate_destroy() to remove expectations belonging to the helper being unregistered. However, it passes NULL instead of the helper pointer as the data argument, so expect_iter_me() never matches any expectation and all of them survive the cleanup.

After unregister returns, nfnl_cthelper_del() frees the helper object immediately. Subsequent expectation dumps or packet-driven init_conntrack() calls then dereference the freed exp->helper, causing a use-after-free.

Continue reading

Pass the actual helper pointer so expectations referencing it are properly destroyed before the helper object is freed.

BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in string+0x38f/0x430 Read of size 1 at addr ffff888003b14d20 by task poc/103 Call Trace: string+0x38f/0x430 vsnprintf+0x3cc/0x1170 seq_printf+0x17a/0x240 exp_seq_show+0x2e5/0x560 seq_read_iter+0x419/0x1280 proc_reg_read+0x1ac/0x270 vfs_read+0x179/0x930 ksys_read+0xef/0x1c0 Freed by task 103: The buggy address is located 32 bytes inside of freed 192-byte region [ffff888003b14d00, ffff888003b14dc0)

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.8

Version 3.1As of

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

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2026-43027 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, November 6). Linux kernel: netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup (CVE-2026-43027). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-43027

MLA

"Linux kernel: netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup (CVE-2026-43027)." KEVWire, 6 Nov. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-43027.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Linux kernel: netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup (CVE-2026-43027)." Last modified November 6, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-43027.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Linux kernel: netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup (May 1, 2026).
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

netfilter: nf_conntrack_helper: pass helper to expect cleanup

nf_conntrack_helper_unregister() calls nf_ct_expect_iterate_destroy()
to remove expectations belonging to the helper being unregistered.
However, it passes NULL instead of the helper pointer as the data
argument, so expect_iter_me() never matches any expectation and all
of them survive the cleanup.

After unregister returns, nfnl_cthelper_del() frees the helper
object immediately.
CVSS 7.8 (version 3.1; evidence as of Nov 6, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43027).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2026-43027: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43027
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-06T15:21:05.474Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-06T16:50:56.468Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-06T14:41:02.636Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-06T16:20:56.228Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
Record ID: CVE-2026-43027.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Nov 6, 2026, 16:50 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Modified. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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Record details

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