Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-31501)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-31501). 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:
net: ti: icssg-prueth: fix use-after-free of CPPI descriptor in RX path
cppi5_hdesc_get_psdata() returns a pointer into the CPPI descriptor.
In both emac_rx_packet() and emac_rx_packet_zc(), the descriptor is
freed via k3_cppi_desc_pool_free() before the psdata pointer is used
by emac_rx_timestamp(), which dereferences psdata[0] and psdata[1].
This constitutes a use-after-free on every received packet that goes
through the timestamp path.
Defer the descriptor free until after all accesses through the psdata
pointer are complete. For emac_rx_packet(), move the free into the
requeue label so both early-exit and success paths free the descriptor
after all accesses are done. For emac_rx_packet_zc(), move the free to
the end of the loop body after emac_dispatch_skb_zc() (which calls
emac_rx_timestamp()) has returned.
Source: GitHub Security Advisories (Global) 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-2026-31501 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 9.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-31501" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-31501 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 9.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / 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.
Use-after-free (CWE-416) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). 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-2026-31501 linux-lts
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31501 linux Fixed in: 6.19.11-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31501 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