CVE-2026-53212: Linux kernel · netfilter: nft_tunnel: fix use-after-free on object destroy
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.4.0-1162.173~18.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1162.173~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1167.173~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1165.174~18.04.1 +105
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Jun 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nft_tunnel: fix use-after-free on object destroy nft_tunnel_obj_destroy() calls metadata_dst_free() which directly kfree()s the metadata_dst, ignoring the dst_entry refcount. Packets that took a reference via dst_hold() in nft_tunnel_obj_eval() and are still queued (e.g. in a netem qdisc) are left with a dangling pointer. When these packets are eventually dequeued, dst_release() operates on freed memory. Replace metadata_dst_free() with dst_release() so the metadata_dst is freed only after all references are dropped. The dst subsystem already handles metadata_dst cleanup in dst_destroy() when DST_METADATA is set.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-53212 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53212 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/c32b26aaa2f9216520a38b3f4bfeec846eb3eb8a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/349df61526d2e39decc685d246202e3e284cfe05 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/55b79b1ae42372012413ce0413181d26679b17ef (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e9ee18b27fde88cb6148202b33916c66693fe82 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8767fe4079affa74314d7eb3220e700150289842 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/941d7394efda5e054e2d6f3e0dd0f6a9ba19aaa3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c32b26aaa2f9216520a38b3f4bfeec846eb3eb8a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9a0e4b61054cde89a2a77845293c726cc07cc43 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fda6573a46ad24f35348e024905ee5bdf729797e (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8629-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8630-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8631-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8636-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8630-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8631-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8637-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8631-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8629-2 (opens in a new tab)