CVE-2026-53212: Linux kernel · netfilter: nft_tunnel: fix use-after-free on object destroy
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in fda6573a46ad24f35348e024905ee5bdf729797e : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:30 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.
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Total control over the software or total information disclosure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-16.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in fda6573a46ad24f35348e024905ee5bdf729797e, f9a0e4b61054cde89a2a77845293c726cc07cc43, c32b26aaa2f9216520a38b3f4bfeec846eb3eb8a +5
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 |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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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
- 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/fda6573a46ad24f35348e024905ee5bdf729797e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/941d7394efda5e054e2d6f3e0dd0f6a9ba19aaa3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9a0e4b61054cde89a2a77845293c726cc07cc43 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c32b26aaa2f9216520a38b3f4bfeec846eb3eb8a (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html (opens in a new tab)