# CVE-2026-43374: net: nexthop: fix percpu use-after-free in remove_nh_grp_entry

> A use-after-free in the Linux kernel's nexthop group removal allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges via race conditions.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 8 May 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-43374, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43374, GHSA-4gvv-jqvc-49j6, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43374

## What is CVE-2026-43374?

CVE-2026-43374 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 8 May 2026. 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:

net: nexthop: fix percpu use-after-free in remove_nh_grp_entry

When removing a nexthop from a group, remove_nh_grp_entry() publishes
the new group via rcu_assign_pointer() then immediately frees the
removed entry's percpu stats with free_percpu(). However, the
synchronize_net() grace period in the caller remove_nexthop_from_groups()
runs after the free. RCU readers that entered before the publish still
see the old group and can dereference the freed stats via
nh_grp_entry_stats_inc() -> get_cpu_ptr(nhge->stats), causing a
use-after-free on percpu memory.

Fix by deferring the free_percpu() until after synchronize_net() in the
caller. Removed entries are chained via nh_list onto a local deferred
free list. After the grace period completes and all RCU readers have
finished, the percpu stats are safely freed.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43374?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-43374?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-43374 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43374 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-2026-43374 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-43374 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 8 May 2026. 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-2026-43374 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-2026-43374/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43374/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43374
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43374
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-43374

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43374/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.