# CVE-2023-7192: Kernel: refcount leak in ctnetlink_create_conntrack()

> A local attacker with CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges can cause a denial of service via a refcount overflow in the Linux Kernel's netfilter module.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 20 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** AZL-32316, BELL-CVE-2023-7192, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-7192, GHSA-mmc5-hgpc-m8q5, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-7192, USN-6645-1

## What is CVE-2023-7192?

CVE-2023-7192 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 2 Jan 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A memory leak problem was found in ctnetlink_create_conntrack in net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_netlink.c in the Linux Kernel. This issue may allow a local attacker with CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges to cause a denial of service (DoS) attack due to a refcount overflow.

Weakness: CWE-401 (Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-7192?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Linux kernel, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-7192?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-7192 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-7192 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-7192 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-7192 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 2 Jan 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-7192 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7192/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7192/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7192
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7192
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-7192

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7192/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.