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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-31504: Linux kernel · net: fix fanout UAF in packet_release() via NETDEV_UP race

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Mentioned vulnerabilities

Authoritative record:CVE-2026-31504· High 7.8

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 4.4.0-1155.161 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
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 – fixed in 4.4.0-1155.161, 4.15.0-1201.216~14.04.1, 4.4.0-281.315~14.04.1 +109
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 22 Apr 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq 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

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-29.29?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-29.29
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-29.29
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1015.15?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1015.15
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1015.15
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1015.15?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1015.15
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1015.15
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 6.17.0-1017.17
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1018.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1018.19
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1018.19
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1014.14?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1014.14
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1014.14

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: fix fanout UAF in packet_release() via NETDEV_UP race `packet_release()` has a race window where `NETDEV_UP` can re-register a socket into a fanout group's `arr[]` array. The re-registration is not cleaned up by `fanout_release()`, leaving a dangling pointer in the fanout array. `packet_release()` does NOT zero `po->num` in its `bind_lock` section. After releasing `bind_lock`, `po->num` is still non-zero and `po->ifindex` still matches the bound device. A concurrent `packet_notifier(NETDEV_UP)` that already found the socket in `sklist` can re-register the hook. For fanout sockets, this re-registration calls `__fanout_link(sk, po)` which adds the socket back into `f->arr[]` and increments `f->num_members`, but does NOT increment `f->sk_ref`. The fix sets `po->num` to zero in `packet_release` while `bind_lock` is held to prevent NETDEV_UP from linking, preventing the race window. This bug was found following an additional audit with Claude Code based on CVE-2025-38617.

References

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