CVE-2023-54200 netfilter: nf_tables: always release netdev hooks from notifier
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel netfilter subsystem allows attackers to cause a denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted network namespace removal sequences.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-54200?
CVE-2023-54200 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 30 Dec 2025. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netfilter: nf_tables: always release netdev hooks from notifier
This reverts "netfilter: nf_tables: skip netdev events generated on netns removal".
The problem is that when a veth device is released, the veth release callback will also queue the peer netns device for removal.
Its possible that the peer netns is also slated for removal. In this case, the device memory is already released before the pre_exit hook of the peer netns runs:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in nf_hook_entry_head+0x1b8/0x1d0 Read of size 8 at addr ffff88812c0124f0 by task kworker/u8:1/45 Workqueue: netns cleanup_net Call Trace: nf_hook_entry_head+0x1b8/0x1d0 __nf_unregister_net_hook+0x76/0x510 nft_netdev_unregister_hooks+0xa0/0x220 __nft_release_hook+0x184/0x490 nf_tables_pre_exit_net+0x12f/0x1b0 ..
Order is: 1. First netns is released, veth_dellink() queues peer netns device for removal 2. peer netns is queued for removal 3. peer netns device is released, unreg event is triggered 4. unreg event is ignored because netns is going down 5. pre_exit hook calls nft_netdev_unregister_hooks but device memory might be free'd already.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-54200?
How do I fix CVE-2023-54200?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2023-54200 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-54200 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2023-54200, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-54200, GHSA-jgcg-mpfg-g663, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-54200.