CVE-2026-90237: Linux kernel · netfilter: nft_ct: move custom expectation support to helper
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
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 17 Sep 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
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.
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in the affected Linux kernel versions. Users should update to the patched kernel versions listed to remediate this vulnerability. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official updates.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's netfilter nft_ct module related to custom connection tracking (conntrack) expectation support has been resolved. The issue involved invalid handling of confirmed conntracks, leading to potential kernel crashes (splats) due to stale entries after reallocation of connection tracking extensions. The fix introduces an internal connection tracking helper to manage custom expectations safely and restricts expectation creation to avoid packet drops. This vulnerability affects multiple specific Linux kernel versions used in Ubuntu HWE edge releases.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90237 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3679da4ad8be84cddaf40bc307fef1fe13e051ff (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/af3fe52fd108fd38235e4813df62442ed0f1d8ff (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-90237 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-90237 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/3679da4ad8be84cddaf40bc307fef1fe13e051ff (opens in a new tab)