In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
netfilter: x_tables: fix percpu counter block leak on error path when creating new netns
Here is the stack where we allocate percpu counter block:
+-< __alloc_percpu
+-< xt_percpu_counter_alloc
+-< find_check_entry # {arp,ip,ip6}_tables.c
+-< translate_table
And it can be leaked on this code path:
+-> ip6t_register_table
+-> translate_table # allocates percpu counter block
+-> xt_register_table # fails
there is no freeing of the counter block on xt_register_table fail.
Note: xt_percpu_counter_free should be called to free it like we do in
do_replace through cleanup_entry helper (or in __ip6t_unregister_table).
Probability of hitting this error path is low AFAICS (xt_register_table
can only return ENOMEM here, as it is not replacing anything, as we are
creating new netns, and it is hard to imagine that all previous
allocations succeeded and after that one in xt_register_table failed).
But it's worth fixing even the rare leak.
netfilter: x_tables: fix percpu counter block leak on error path when creating new netns
Here is the stack where we allocate percpu counter block:
+-< __alloc_percpu
+-< xt_percpu_counter_alloc
+-< find_check_entry # {arp,ip,ip6}_tables.c
+-< translate_table
And it can be leaked on this code path:
+-> ip6t_register_table
+-> translate_table # allocates percpu counter block
+-> xt_register_table # fails
there is no freeing of the counter block on xt_register_table fail.
Note: xt_percpu_counter_free should be called to free it like we do in
do_replace through cleanup_entry helper (or in __ip6t_unregister_table).
Probability of hitting this error path is low AFAICS (xt_register_table
can only return ENOMEM here, as it is not replacing anything, as we are
creating new netns, and it is hard to imagine that all previous
allocations succeeded and after that one in xt_register_table failed).
But it's worth fixing even the rare leak.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:45:00 +0000
Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
---|---|---|
Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: x_tables: fix percpu counter block leak on error path when creating new netns Here is the stack where we allocate percpu counter block: +-< __alloc_percpu +-< xt_percpu_counter_alloc +-< find_check_entry # {arp,ip,ip6}_tables.c +-< translate_table And it can be leaked on this code path: +-> ip6t_register_table +-> translate_table # allocates percpu counter block +-> xt_register_table # fails there is no freeing of the counter block on xt_register_table fail. Note: xt_percpu_counter_free should be called to free it like we do in do_replace through cleanup_entry helper (or in __ip6t_unregister_table). Probability of hitting this error path is low AFAICS (xt_register_table can only return ENOMEM here, as it is not replacing anything, as we are creating new netns, and it is hard to imagine that all previous allocations succeeded and after that one in xt_register_table failed). But it's worth fixing even the rare leak. | |
Title | netfilter: x_tables: fix percpu counter block leak on error path when creating new netns | |
References |
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2025-09-15T14:21:28.466Z
Reserved: 2025-09-15T13:59:19.067Z
Link: CVE-2023-53200

No data.

Status : Awaiting Analysis
Published: 2025-09-15T15:15:46.400
Modified: 2025-09-15T15:22:27.090
Link: CVE-2023-53200

No data.

No data.