CVE-2024-27012: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: restore set elements when delete set fails From abort path...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: restore set elements when delete set fails From abort path, nft_mapelem_activate() needs to restore refcounters to the original state. Currently, it uses the set->ops->walk() to iterate over these set elements. The existing set iterator skips inactive elements in the next generation, this does not work from the abort path to restore the original state since it has to skip active elements instead (not inactive ones). This patch moves the check for inactive elements to the set iterator callback, then it reverses the logic for the .activate case which needs to skip active elements. Toggle next generation bit for elements when delete set command is invoked and call nft_clear() from .activate (abort) path to restore the next generation bit. The splat below shows an object in mappings memleak: [43929.457523] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [43929.457532] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 1139 at include/net/netfilter/nf_tables.h:1237 nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [...] [43929.458014] RIP: 0010:nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458076] Code: 83 f8 01 77 ab 49 8d 7c 24 08 e8 37 5e d0 de 49 8b 6c 24 08 48 8d 7d 50 e8 e9 5c d0 de 8b 45 50 8d 50 ff 89 55 50 85 c0 75 86 <0f> 0b eb 82 0f 0b eb b3 0f 1f 40 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 [43929.458081] RSP: 0018:ffff888140f9f4b0 EFLAGS: 00010246 [43929.458086] RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff8881434f5288 RCX: dffffc0000000000 [43929.458090] RDX: 00000000ffffffff RSI: ffffffffa26d28a7 RDI: ffff88810ecc9550 [43929.458093] RBP: ffff88810ecc9500 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: ffffed10281f3e8f [43929.458096] R10: 0000000000000003 R11: ffff0000ffff0000 R12: ffff8881434f52a0 [43929.458100] R13: ffff888140f9f5f4 R14: ffff888151c7a800 R15: 0000000000000002 [43929.458103] FS: 00007f0c687c4740(0000) GS:ffff888390800000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [43929.458107] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [43929.458111] CR2: 00007f58dbe5b008 CR3: 0000000123602005 CR4: 00000000001706f0 [43929.458114] Call Trace: [43929.458118] <TASK> [43929.458121] ? __warn+0x9f/0x1a0 [43929.458127] ? nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458188] ? report_bug+0x1b1/0x1e0 [43929.458196] ? handle_bug+0x3c/0x70 [43929.458200] ? exc_invalid_op+0x17/0x40 [43929.458211] ? nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xd7/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458271] ? nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458332] nft_mapelem_deactivate+0x24/0x30 [nf_tables] [43929.458392] nft_rhash_walk+0xdd/0x180 [nf_tables] [43929.458453] ? __pfx_nft_rhash_walk+0x10/0x10 [nf_tables] [43929.458512] ? rb_insert_color+0x2e/0x280 [43929.458520] nft_map_deactivate+0xdc/0x1e0 [nf_tables] [43929.458582] ? __pfx_nft_map_deactivate+0x10/0x10 [nf_tables] [43929.458642] ? __pfx_nft_mapelem_deactivate+0x10/0x10 [nf_tables] [43929.458701] ? __rcu_read_unlock+0x46/0x70 [43929.458709] nft_delset+0xff/0x110 [nf_tables] [43929.458769] nft_flush_table+0x16f/0x460 [nf_tables] [43929.458830] nf_tables_deltable+0x501/0x580 [nf_tables]

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.26%

17.5th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-401

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.4, < 6.8.8	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	6.9	Rc1
Fedoraproject	Fedora	38	—
Fedoraproject	Fedora	39	—
Fedoraproject	Fedora	40	—

References

Timeline

Published: May 1, 2024
Last Modified: Jun 19, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-27012?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_tables: restore set elements when delete set fails From abort path, nft_mapelem_activate() needs to restore refcounters to the original state. Currently, it uses the set->ops->walk() to iterate over these set elements. The existing set iterator skips inactive elements in the next generation, this does not work from the abort path to restore the original state since it has to skip active elements instead (not inactive ones). This patch moves the check for inactive elements to the set iterator callback, then it reverses the logic for the .activate case which needs to skip active elements. Toggle next generation bit for elements when delete set command is invoked and call nft_clear() from .activate (abort) path to restore the next generation bit. The splat below shows an object in mappings memleak: [43929.457523] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [43929.457532] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 1139 at include/net/netfilter/nf_tables.h:1237 nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [...] [43929.458014] RIP: 0010:nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458076] Code: 83 f8 01 77 ab 49 8d 7c 24 08 e8 37 5e d0 de 49 8b 6c 24 08 48 8d 7d 50 e8 e9 5c d0 de 8b 45 50 8d 50 ff 89 55 50 85 c0 75 86 <0f> 0b eb 82 0f 0b eb b3 0f 1f 40 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 [43929.458081] RSP: 0018:ffff888140f9f4b0 EFLAGS: 00010246 [43929.458086] RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff8881434f5288 RCX: dffffc0000000000 [43929.458090] RDX: 00000000ffffffff RSI: ffffffffa26d28a7 RDI: ffff88810ecc9550 [43929.458093] RBP: ffff88810ecc9500 R08: 0000000000000001 R09: ffffed10281f3e8f [43929.458096] R10: 0000000000000003 R11: ffff0000ffff0000 R12: ffff8881434f52a0 [43929.458100] R13: ffff888140f9f5f4 R14: ffff888151c7a800 R15: 0000000000000002 [43929.458103] FS: 00007f0c687c4740(0000) GS:ffff888390800000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [43929.458107] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [43929.458111] CR2: 00007f58dbe5b008 CR3: 0000000123602005 CR4: 00000000001706f0 [43929.458114] Call Trace: [43929.458118] <TASK> [43929.458121] ? __warn+0x9f/0x1a0 [43929.458127] ? nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458188] ? report_bug+0x1b1/0x1e0 [43929.458196] ? handle_bug+0x3c/0x70 [43929.458200] ? exc_invalid_op+0x17/0x40 [43929.458211] ? nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xd7/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458271] ? nft_setelem_data_deactivate+0xe4/0xf0 [nf_tables] [43929.458332] nft_mapelem_deactivate+0x24/0x30 [nf_tables] [43929.458392] nft_rhash_walk+0xdd/0x180 [nf_tables] [43929.458453] ? __pfx_nft_rhash_walk+0x10/0x10 [nf_tables] [43929.458512] ? rb_insert_color+0x2e/0x280 [43929.458520] nft_map_deactivate+0xdc/0x1e0 [nf_tables] [43929.458582] ? __pfx_nft_map_deactivate+0x10/0x10 [nf_tables] [43929.458642] ? __pfx_nft_mapelem_deactivate+0x10/0x10 [nf_tables] [43929.458701] ? __rcu_read_unlock+0x46/0x70 [43929.458709] nft_delset+0xff/0x110 [nf_tables] [43929.458769] nft_flush_table+0x16f/0x460 [nf_tables] [43929.458830] nf_tables_deltable+0x501/0x580 [nf_tables]

How severe is CVE-2024-27012?

CVE-2024-27012 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.26% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2024-27012?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.