CVE-2026-52912: netfilter: nf_queue: hold bridge skb->dev while queued

Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-06-24 · updated 2026-10-19
Weakness: CWE-416

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: nf_queue: hold bridge skb->dev while queued br_pass_frame_up() rewrites skb->dev from the ingress port to the bridge master before queueing bridge LOCAL_IN packets. NFQUEUE only holds references on state.in/out and bridge physdevs, so a queued bridge packet can retain a freed bridge master in skb->dev until reinjection. When the verdict is reinjected later, br_netif_receive_skb() re-enters the receive path with skb->dev still pointing at the freed bridge master, triggering a use-after-free. Store skb->dev in the queue entry, hold a reference on it for the queue lifetime, and use the saved device when dropping queued packets during NETDEV_DOWN handling.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 4.7 before 5.10.259; from 5.11 before 5.15.209; from 5.16 before 6.1.175; from 6.2 before 6.6.142; from 6.7 before 6.12.92; from 6.13 before 6.18.34 — fixed in 5.10.259, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 6.6.142

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 5.10.259, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.12.92. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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