Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-31702)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-31702). 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:
f2fs: fix use-after-free of sbi in f2fs_compress_write_end_io()
In f2fs_compress_write_end_io(), dec_page_count(sbi, type) can bring
the F2FS_WB_CP_DATA counter to zero, unblocking
f2fs_wait_on_all_pages() in f2fs_put_super() on a concurrent unmount
CPU. The unmount path then proceeds to call
f2fs_destroy_page_array_cache(sbi), which destroys
sbi->page_array_slab via kmem_cache_destroy(), and eventually
kfree(sbi). Meanwhile, the bio completion callback is still executing:
when it reaches page_array_free(sbi, ...), it dereferences
sbi->page_array_slab — a destroyed slab cache — to call
kmem_cache_free(), causing a use-after-free.
This is the same class of bug as CVE-2026-23234 (which fixed the
equivalent race in f2fs_write_end_io() in data.c), but in the
compressed writeback completion path that was not covered by that fix.
Fix this by moving dec_page_count() to after page_array_free(), so
that all sbi accesses complete before the counter decrement that can
unblock unmount. For non-last folios (where atomic_dec_return on
cic->pending_pages is nonzero), dec_page_count is called immediately
before returning — page_array_free is not reached on this path, so
there is no post-decrement sbi access. For the last folio,
page_array_free runs while the F2FS_WB_CP_DATA counter is still
nonzero (this folio has not yet decremented it), keeping sbi alive,
and dec_page_count runs as the final operation.
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-2026-31702 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-2026-31702" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-31702 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / 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.
Use-after-free (CWE-416) 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-2026-31702 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.1.175-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31702 linux
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31702 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 git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com