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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-31579: Linux kernel · wireguard: device: use exit_rtnl callback instead of manual rtnl_lock in pre_exit

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0
Authoritative record:CVE-2026-31579

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 7.0.0-28.28~24.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 16:02 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
5.5Medium
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 4% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 7.0.0-28.28~24.04.1, 7.0.0-27.27, 7.0.0-1008.8 +6
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 24 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 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <7.0.0-27.27
Fixed in
  • 7.0.0-27.27
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <7.0.0-1008.8
Fixed in
  • 7.0.0-1008.8
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <7.0.0-1010.10
Fixed in
  • 7.0.0-1010.10
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <7.0.0-1009.9
Fixed in
  • 7.0.0-1009.9
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <7.0.0-1007.7
Fixed in
  • 7.0.0-1007.7
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-ibmpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-ibm?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threatsAffected
  • <7.0.0-1009.9
Fixed in
  • 7.0.0-1009.9

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 and should be applied to affected linux-hwe-edge kernel versions. The fix changes the WireGuard device cleanup to use the exit_rtnl callback, which properly manages rtnl_lock acquisition and prevents hung tasks. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as per the vendor advisory (Ubuntu Security Notice USN-8488-1).

Description

A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's WireGuard device handling was resolved by changing from manual rtnl_lock acquisition in the pre_exit callback to using the exit_rtnl callback, which properly manages locking and prevents hung tasks. This issue caused indefinite blocking when cleanup or rollback paths waited for a lock held by another thread. The fix moves cleanup operations to a safer callback where the lock is already held, eliminating contention. This vulnerability affects certain versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel prior to specified 7.0.0 builds. The issue has a medium severity score and a patch is available.

References

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