netfilter: cttimeout: detach dataplane timeout policy and repurpose refcount
Why It Matters
Analysis dossierWhy It Matters
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfilter: cttimeout: detach dataplane timeout policy and repurpose refcount Add a refcount for struct nf_ct_timeout which is used by ct extension to set the custom ct timeout policy, this tells us that the ct timeout is being used by a conntrack entry. When the last conntrack entry drops the refcount on the ct timeout, the ct timeout is released. Remove the refcount for control plane which controls if the ruleset refers to the timeout policy. After this update, it is possible to remove the ct timeout policy from nfnetlink_cttimeout immediately. This is for simplicity not to handle two refcounts on a single object. Remove nf_queue_nf_hook_drop(): a packet sitting in nfqueue will just hold a reference to the nf_ct_timeout object until packet is reinjected, since this is part of the ct extension, this will be released by the time the conntrack is freed. nf_ct_untimeout() is still called to clean up in a best effort basis: the ct timeout on existing entries gets removed when the ct timeout goes away, but as long as the iptables ruleset still refers to the ct timeout through a template, new conntracks may keep attaching it and extend its lifetime until the rule is removed. nf_ct_untimeout() is not called anymore from module removal path, this is unlikely to find timeouts give module refcount is bumped, and the new refcount already tracks the ct timeout policy use so it is released when unused.
High
Unknown
Unknown
Risk basis: SOC ecosystem technology relevance; HIGH severity; No confirmed exploitation signal in current enrichment
Affected Products & Remediation
3 source-backed products- azl3 kernel 6.6.150.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 · version range not provided by source · Microsoft MSRC · Source
- azl3 kernel 6.6.152.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 · version range not provided by source · Microsoft MSRC · Source
- azl3 kernel 6.6.157.1-1 on Azure Linux 3.0 · version range not provided by source · Microsoft MSRC · Source
Vendor or catalog guidance (source)
- Microsoft MSRC: Release Notes
Known exploitation (source facts)
Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".
- CISA KEV
- Unknown
- Exploited (source statement)
- Unknown
- Publicly disclosed (source)
- Unknown
Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)
SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.
No rule-based guidance for this vulnerability class
CISA KEV Record
CISA KEV status was not determined for this record.
Change History & Source Data
— No recorded material change
- CNA / source
- 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- Record status · verification
- UPDATED · NVD API
- CPE
- Unknown
Evidence & Provenance
Linked by the query's stored exact CVE association. Review required tables and validation status before use.
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities| where CveId == "CVE-2026-74347"| project DeviceId, DeviceName, OSPlatform, OSVersion, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, CveId, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, RecommendedSecurityUpdateId| sort by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel desc