CVE-2026-97608: Linux kernel · netfilter: nf_log: unregister loggers before per-net teardown
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.0 High · fixed in eaec35fae8f2052c1878a5c7cc7699d8357d79f2 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in eaec35fae8f2052c1878a5c7cc7699d8357d79f2, dce24f3a146948595bb1b86347f31e20b4975daa, b0514ca1ee6f2b708d6c602ea946acdfc6a90e24 +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 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
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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AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in the Linux kernel. The remediation involves updating to a kernel version that includes the fix where global logger backends are unregistered before per-net teardown to prevent the race condition. Users should upgrade to a fixed kernel release containing the commits identified by the fixedVersions hashes. No additional mitigation is required once patched.
Description
CVE-2026-97608 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel's netfilter nf_log subsystem. It involves improper ordering during logger unregistration, which creates a race condition allowing a sysctl or netlink writer to rebind a logger after it has been cleared but before global logger backends are unregistered. This can lead to dereferencing stale pointers during sysctl reads or packet logging operations.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/51417230716b73f6aa1dc402b3a56d3382a694dc (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0514ca1ee6f2b708d6c602ea946acdfc6a90e24 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/90166834b7dc6131aa42b6b14b8b4ed47be97079 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eaec35fae8f2052c1878a5c7cc7699d8357d79f2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/64803ba0a05791cf9ca874466480e4c4cadaf7ab (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dce24f3a146948595bb1b86347f31e20b4975daa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2c018cc4842c33f0c732962e2ab58635e8ae5823 (opens in a new tab)