CVE-2023-53635: netfilter: conntrack: fix wrong ct->timeout value

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.4% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2025-10-07 · updated 2026-10-15

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: conntrack: fix wrong ct->timeout value (struct nf_conn)->timeout is an interval before the conntrack confirmed. After confirmed, it becomes a timestamp. It is observed that timeout of an unconfirmed conntrack: - Set by calling ctnetlink_change_timeout(). As a result, `nfct_time_stamp` was wrongly added to `ct->timeout` twice. - Get by calling ctnetlink_dump_timeout(). As a result, `nfct_time_stamp` was wrongly subtracted. Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl ctnetlink_dump_timeout __ctnetlink_glue_build ctnetlink_glue_build __nfqnl_enqueue_packet nf_queue nf_hook_slow ip_mc_output ? __pfx_ip_finish_output ip_send_skb ? __pfx_dst_output udp_send_skb udp_sendmsg ? __pfx_ip_generic_getfrag sock_sendmsg Separate the 2 cases in: - Setting `ct->timeout` in __nf_ct_set_timeout(). - Getting `ct->timeout` in ctnetlink_dump_timeout(). Pablo appends: Update ctnetlink to set up the timeout _after_ the IPS_CONFIRMED flag is set on, otherwise conntrack creation via ctnetlink breaks. Note that the problem described in this patch occurs since the introduction of the nfnetlink_queue conntrack support, select a sufficiently old Fixes: tag for -stable kernel to pick up this fix.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 4.4 before 6.1.28; from 6.2 before 6.2.15; from 6.3 before 6.3.2 — fixed in 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 6.1.28, 6.2.15, 6.3.2. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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