# CVE-2026-90237: netfilter: nft_ct: move custom expectation support to helper

CVE-2026-90237 is fixed in linux on 1 platform by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-90237 (version 7.2.6-1), released September 23, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-90237
- Priority: High
- CVSS: 7.8 (Moderate)
- EPSS: 0.0017
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Sep 17, 2026
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-90237

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  netfilter: nft_ct: move custom expectation support to helper  Originally, the ct expectation support called nf_ct_helper_ext_add() for confirmed conntracks, which is invalid, triggering a splat. This was fixed by commit 1710eb913bdc ("netfilter: nft_ct: skip expectations for confirmed conntrack") which restricted it to unconfirmed conntracks.  However, early insertion of expectations into the expectations list when the conntrack is unconfirmed leads to stale entries pointing to the wrong hlist_head through .pprev due to ct extension reallocation.  Commit 7c9664351980 ("netfilter: move nat hlist_head to nf_conn") moved the nat hlist_head to nf_conn for this reason:       1. ...      2. When reallocation of extension area occurs we need to fixup the         bysource hash head via hlist_replace_rcu.  I'd rather not increase the size of the struct nf_conn for this feature has very limited scope: only one expectation can be created at a time given expect_clash() will make nf_ct_expect_related() reports EBUSY. For this reason, relax nf_ct_expect_related() not to drop packets in case expectation creation fails, therefore, expectation creation becomes best effort.  To address this issue, add an internal ct helper and attach it to the conntrack entry to streamline the custom ct expectation support with existing ct helpers.  Expose a new nf_conntrack_helper_release() function to release the internal helper that is allocated and attached to the conntrack entry to create the custom expectations. The nft_ct module removal always waits for rcu grace period, then the NULL helper callback is observed after this.  This patch also restricts the creation of expectations to different helpers other than this custom helper that is created for this type of expectations.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 7.2.6-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-90237](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-90237.md) | Sep 23, 2026 |

---

Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

Free to use with attribution: show "Data: Patchblox Patch Radar" with a link to https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar. Terms, including what needs a written agreement: https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar/use-the-data

Product names, logos and trademarks shown on Patch Radar belong to their respective owners. They are used only to identify the software each security fix applies to and to help readers find their platform. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, those owners, and Patchblox is not affiliated with any of them.