Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-31398)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-31398). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm/rmap: fix incorrect pte restoration for lazyfree folios
We batch unmap anonymous lazyfree folios by folio_unmap_pte_batch. If the
batch has a mix of writable and non-writable bits, we may end up setting
the entire batch writable. Fix this by respecting writable bit during
batching.
Although on a successful unmap of a lazyfree folio, the soft-dirty bit is
lost, preserve it on pte restoration by respecting the bit during
batching, to make the fix consistent w.r.t both writable bit and
soft-dirty bit.
I was able to write the below reproducer and crash the kernel.
Explanation of reproducer (set 64K mTHP to always):
Fault in a 64K large folio. Split the VMA at mid-point with
MADV_DONTFORK. fork() - parent points to the folio with 8 writable ptes
and 8 non-writable ptes. Merge the VMAs with MADV_DOFORK so that
folio_unmap_pte_batch() can determine all the 16 ptes as a batch. Do
MADV_FREE on the range to mark the folio as lazyfree. Write to the memory
to dirty the pte, eventually rmap will dirty the folio. Then trigger
reclaim, we will hit the pte restoration path, and the kernel will crash
with the trace given below.
The BUG happens at:
BUG_ON(atomic_inc_return(&ptc->anon_map_count) > 1 && rw);
The code path is asking for anonymous page to be mapped writable into the
pagetable. The BUG_ON() firing implies that such a writable page has been
mapped into the pagetables of more than one process, w…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-31398 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-31398" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-31398 (Linux kernel) — CWE-617 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-617) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- BellSoft Alpaquita BELL-CVE-2026-31398 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.18.35-r1
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31398 linux Fixed in: 6.19.10-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31398 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory github.com
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com