---
title: "CVE-2026-97608: Linux Kernel netfilter nf_log - Race Condition"
description: "Linux kernel netfilter nf_log contains a race condition caused by improper ordering of logger unregistration in per-network namespace and global logger backends, letting attackers cause use-after-free or stale pointer dereference, exploit requires concurrent sysctl or netlink writer access."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-97608/
---

# CVE-2026-97608 Linux Kernel netfilter nf\_log - Race Condition

Linux kernel netfilter nf\_log contains a race condition caused by improper ordering of logger unregistration in per-network namespace and global logger backends, letting attackers cause use-after-free or stale pointer dereference, exploit requires concurrent sysctl or netlink writer access.

CVSS base score 7.0 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

EPSS

0.14% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97608)

## Details

Type

Race Condition

Impact

Denial Of Service, Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

25 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for proper logger unregistration ordering.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97608](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97608)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2c018cc4842c33f0c732962e2ab58635e8ae5823](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2c018cc4842c33f0c732962e2ab58635e8ae5823)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64803ba0a05791cf9ca874466480e4c4cadaf7ab](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64803ba0a05791cf9ca874466480e4c4cadaf7ab)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dce24f3a146948595bb1b86347f31e20b4975daa](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dce24f3a146948595bb1b86347f31e20b4975daa)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eaec35fae8f2052c1878a5c7cc7699d8357d79f2](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/eaec35fae8f2052c1878a5c7cc7699d8357d79f2)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51417230716b73f6aa1dc402b3a56d3382a694dc](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/51417230716b73f6aa1dc402b3a56d3382a694dc)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/90166834b7dc6131aa42b6b14b8b4ed47be97079](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/90166834b7dc6131aa42b6b14b8b4ed47be97079)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0514ca1ee6f2b708d6c602ea946acdfc6a90e24](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b0514ca1ee6f2b708d6c602ea946acdfc6a90e24)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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