CVE-2026-31458: Linux kernel · mm/damon/sysfs: check contexts->nr before accessing contexts_arr[0]
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · patch available : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Apr 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-40.40?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1019.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1020.20?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1020.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1018.18?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available for this vulnerability. Users should update their Linux kernel to the fixed versions listed in the vendor advisory and reboot their systems to apply the changes. Due to an ABI change, third-party kernel modules may need recompilation and reinstallation after the update. Follow the vendor's update instructions carefully.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/damon/sysfs: check contexts->nr before accessing contexts_arr[0] Multiple sysfs command paths dereference contexts_arr[0] without first verifying that kdamond->contexts->nr == 1. A user can set nr_contexts to 0 via sysfs while DAMON is running, causing NULL pointer dereferences. In more detail, the issue can be triggered by privileged users like below. First, start DAMON and make contexts directory empty (kdamond->contexts->nr == 0). # damo start # cd /sys/kernel/mm/damon/admin/kdamonds/0 # echo 0 > contexts/nr_contexts Then, each of below commands will cause the NULL pointer dereference. # echo update_schemes_stats > state # echo update_schemes_tried_regions > state # echo update_schemes_tried_bytes > state # echo update_schemes_effective_quotas > state # echo update_tuned_intervals > state Guard all commands (except OFF) at the entry point of damon_sysfs_handle_cmd().
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-31458 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31458 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1bfe9fb5ed2667fb075682408b776b5273162615 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8567-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8596-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8606-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8607-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8608-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8609-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8619-1 (opens in a new tab)