Resource exhaustion in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-23391

 

Resource exhaustion in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-23391

Published: March 25, 2026


Vulnerability identifier: #VU124449
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 6.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-23391
CWE-ID: CWE-400
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability: No public exploit available

Vulnerability details

The vulnerability allows a local user to cause a denial of service.

The vulnerability exists due to improper resource management in the netfilter xt_CT module when handling packet queueing. A local user can trigger the queuing of packets that reference templates, which, upon removal of the template, are not properly flushed, leading to resource exhaustion and system instability.

Templates such as connection tracking helpers or timeout policies may be removed during module unloading or via nfnetlink_cttimeout, leaving packets enqueued without valid references.


Affected software

Linux kernel
Debian Linux
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 LTSS Extended
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching
SUSE Real Time Module
Basesystem Module
Development Tools Module
Legacy Module
Public Cloud Module
Ubuntu
openEuler
kgraft-patch-4_12_14-122_310-default
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_54-rt
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_15-debugsource
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_54-rt-debuginfo
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_55-default-debuginfo
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_15-debugsource
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_55-default
kernel-syms
kernel-default-base
cluster-md-kmp-default-debuginfo
dlm-kmp-default-debuginfo
kernel-default-devel
ocfs2-kmp-default
kernel-default-base-debuginfo
ocfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo
cluster-md-kmp-default
dlm-kmp-default
kernel-default-debugsource
gfs2-kmp-default
gfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo
kernel-default-debuginfo
kernel-default
kernel-source
kernel-devel
kernel-macros
kernel-default-man
kernel-default-devel-debuginfo
kernel-default-kgraft
kernel-default-kgraft-devel
linux (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-tegra (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux-intel-iot-realtime (Ubuntu package)
linux-ibm-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux-intel-iotg (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-fips (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-fde (Ubuntu package)
linux (Debian package)
kernel-rt-devel
dlm-kmp-rt
kernel-rt
kernel-source-rt
gfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo
kernel-devel-rt
ocfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo
dlm-kmp-rt-debuginfo
kernel-rt-devel-debuginfo
kernel-rt-debuginfo
cluster-md-kmp-rt-debuginfo
kernel-rt-debugsource
gfs2-kmp-rt
kernel-syms-rt
ocfs2-kmp-rt
cluster-md-kmp-rt
kernel-obs-build
kernel-obs-build-debugsource
reiserfs-kmp-default-debuginfo
reiserfs-kmp-default
kernel-azure
kernel-azure-debugsource
kernel-azure-debuginfo
kernel-azure-devel-debuginfo
kernel-azure-devel
kernel-default-extra-debuginfo
kernel-default-extra
kernel-default-livepatch
kernel-default-livepatch-devel
kernel-64kb
kernel-64kb-debugsource
kernel-zfcpdump-debugsource
kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfo
kernel-zfcpdump
kernel-docs
kernel-64kb-debuginfo
kernel-64kb-devel
kernel-64kb-devel-debuginfo
kernel-tools-debuginfo
kernel-tools
kernel-tools-devel
python3-perf-debuginfo
perf
kernel-headers
kernel-debugsource
kernel-debuginfo
bpftool-debuginfo
bpftool
kernel
python3-perf
perf-debuginfo
kernel-extra-modules
linux-fips (Ubuntu package)
linux-hwe-6.8 (Ubuntu package)
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package)
linux-oracle-6.8 (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws-6.8 (Ubuntu package)
linux-raspi (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-fde-6.8 (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-fips (Ubuntu package)

How to mitigate CVE-2026-23391

Install security update from vendor's repository.

Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3
kgraft-patch-4_12_14-122_310-default - update to 1-8.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_54-rt - update to 1-150700.1.3.1
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_15-debugsource - update to 1-150700.1.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_54-rt-debuginfo - update to 1-150700.1.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_55-default-debuginfo - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_15-debugsource - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_55-default - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-syms - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-base - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1.150700.17.33.1
cluster-md-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
dlm-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-devel - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
ocfs2-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-base-debuginfo - update to 4.12.14-122.310.1
ocfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
cluster-md-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
dlm-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-debugsource - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
gfs2-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
gfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-source - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-devel - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-macros - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-man - update to 4.12.14-122.310.1
kernel-default-devel-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.310.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-kgraft - update to 4.12.14-122.310.1
kernel-default-kgraft-devel - update to 4.12.14-122.310.1
linux (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0.184.155, 5.15.0-184.194, 5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1, 5.15.0.186.166, 5.15.0-186.196, 5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1075.78, 5.15.0-1075.79, 5.15.0.1095.94, 5.15.0-1095.103, 5.15.0.1104.100, 5.15.0-1104.109, 5.15.0.1108.107, 5.15.0-1108.114, 5.15.0.1111.115, 5.15.0-1111.120+fips1, 5.15.0.1112.102, 5.15.0.1112.109, 5.15.0-1112.122, 5.15.0-1112.122+fips1, 6.8.0-136.136, 6.8.0-1046.50, 6.8.0-1059.67, 6.8.0-1064.72, 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1, 6.8.1-1056.57, 6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
linux-aws (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0.186.109, 5.15.0-186.196+fips1, 5.15.0.1106.103, 5.15.0-1106.110, 5.15.0.1107.107, 5.15.0-1107.108, 5.15.0.1112.108, 5.15.0.1112.115, 5.15.0-1112.119, 5.15.0-1112.119+fips1, 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1, 6.8.0-1061.64+1
linux-nvidia-tegra (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1053.53, 5.15.0.1053.55, 5.15.0.1064.64, 5.15.0-1064.66
linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - update to 5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1
linux-intel-iot-realtime (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1104.106, 5.15.0.1104.108, 5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1
linux-ibm-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - update to 5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
linux-intel-iotg (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0.1107.106, 5.15.0-1107.113
linux-azure (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0.1109.105, 5.15.0-1109.115, 5.15.0.1117.115, 5.15.0-1117.126, 6.8.0-1063.71, 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
linux-azure-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2
linux-gcp-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - update to 5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1
linux-azure-fips (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0.1117.102, 5.15.0-1117.126+fips1, 6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
linux-azure-fde (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1117.126, 6.8.0-1062.69
linux (Debian package) - addressed in versions 6.1.170-1, 6.12.85-1
kernel-rt-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
dlm-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-source-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
gfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-devel-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
ocfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
dlm-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-rt-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
cluster-md-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-rt-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
gfs2-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-syms-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
ocfs2-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
cluster-md-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.54.1
kernel-obs-build - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-obs-build-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
reiserfs-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
reiserfs-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-azure - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-azure-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-azure-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-azure-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-azure-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-extra-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-extra - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-livepatch - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-default-livepatch-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-64kb - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-64kb-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-zfcpdump-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-zfcpdump - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-docs - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-64kb-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-64kb-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-64kb-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.55.1
kernel-tools-debuginfo - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-tools - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-tools-devel - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
python3-perf-debuginfo - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
perf - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-source - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-headers - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-devel - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-debugsource - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-debuginfo - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
bpftool-debuginfo - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
bpftool - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
python3-perf - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
perf-debuginfo - addressed in versions 6.6.0-145.0.2.130, 6.6.0-145.0.2.142, 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
kernel-extra-modules - update to 6.6.0-145.0.2.143
linux-fips (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.8.0-136.136+fips2, 6.8.0-136.136.2, 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1058.61
linux-hwe-6.8 (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.8.0-1030.31, 6.8.0-1033.34, 6.8.0-1061.62, 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
linux-oracle-6.8 (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.8.0-1059.62, 6.8.0-1059.62.1, 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
linux-aws-6.8 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.8.0-1061.64+fips1, 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
linux-raspi (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.8.0-1061.65, 6.8.0-2050.52
linux-azure-fde-6.8 (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
linux-gcp-fips (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1

External References

Related Security Bulletins