nat_del_dispatch never frees nat_state2 entries (free loops commented out): unbounded kernel heap leak on NAT delete/flush
Summary
nat_del_dispatch frees only the RB-tree nat_states; the loops meant to free per-alias nat_state2 entries are commented out, so every tcp_in/udp_in/icmp_in state (up to 3x64511 per alias) leaks on 'ipfw3 nat N delete'/flush/module unload. The cleanup callout only reaps s2 while the NAT exists. The icmp_in store also overwrites colliding s2 without freeing. Root config-churn leaks 28B x states unboundedly. Code-certain (Low). Fix: walk the alias arrays and kfree non-NULL entries before freeing the alias; free displaced s2 on overwrite.
Discussion (0)
PoC verification
Evidence pack
findings/poc/DF-3400 Β· 2 files| File | Type | Description | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| README.md | β | 1.5 KB | β raw | |
| verdict.json | β | 1.6 KB | view raw |
DF-3400 β ipfw3 NAT delete leaks every nat_state2 (and icmp_in overwrite never frees)
What
sys/net/ipfw3_nat/ip_fw3_nat.c:806-842 (nat_del_dispatch): the
loops that were supposed to free the per-alias nat_state2 entries
(tcp_in[], udp_in[], icmp_in[]) are commented out β only the
RB-tree nat_states are freed before kfree(alias)/kfree(nat):
/*
LIST_FOREACH_MUTABLE(s2, &nat->alias->icmp_in, next, tmp2) { ... }
*/
Every nat_state2 created while the NAT was active (one per flow per
direction; up to 3 Γ 64511 per alias) is leaked on
ipfw3 nat N delete / ipfw3 nat flush / module unload. The daily
cleanup callout frees expired s2s only while the NAT still exists
(:948-996); deleting the NAT first strands them all.
Additionally :326's store (alias->icmp_in[s->alias_port] = s2)
overwrites any previous s2 at the same residue without freeing it
(two internal hosts whose src*dst collide) β a slow steady leak
even without deletes.
Impact
Kernel heap leak owned entirely by root configuration churn + traffic:
add β traffic β delete cycles leak 28 B Γ states. Unbounded with
repeated reconfiguration. Low severity (root-gated), certainty: certain
from code; not verified on the guest (Low β Phase V skipped per
contract).
Fix
Uncomment/rewrite the s2 free loops in nat_del_dispatch to walk
alias->{tcp,udp,icmp}_in[] and kfree every non-NULL entry before
freeing the alias, and free the displaced s2 when overwriting a
non-NULL icmp_in slot at :326.
Fix verification
not_testableConfirmed kernel references
Detail
Evidence (decisive lines)
['findings/poc/DF-3400/README.md']
PoC changes
n/a (Phase V skipped for this Low finding per batch contract)
Verified recommended fix
Uncomment/rewrite the s2 free loops in nat_del_dispatch to walk alias->{tcp,udp,icmp}_in[] and kfree non-NULL entries before freeing the alias; free displaced s2 on icmp_in overwrite
Verdict
nat_del_dispatch (ip_fw3_nat.c:785-850) frees only the RB-tree nat_states; the loops meant to free per-alias nat_state2 entries are commented out (:806-842), so every tcp_in/udp_in/icmp_in state (one per flow per direction, up to 3x64511 per alias) leaks on 'ipfw3 nat N delete'/flush/module unload. The cleanup callout frees expired s2 only while the NAT exists (:948-996), so deleting first strands them. Additionally :326's icmp_in store overwrites a colliding s2 without freeing. Root-gated config-churn heap leak, unbounded with add/delete cycles. Certain from code; Phase V skipped (Low, per batch contract).
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