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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-31663: Linux kernel · xfrm: hold dev ref until after transport_finish NF_HOOK

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 94439cbe478b53f92223da9aae95fffb28623c3f : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:18 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 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CISA SSVC
Exploitation
No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
Automatable
Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
Technical impact
Total control over the software or total information disclosure

CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-16.

Patch
Available – fixed in 94439cbe478b53f92223da9aae95fffb28623c3f, 5002beda5cac69d522dc54da0d5d463ed9c963d2, 4236c30b437b80f673b9e08c8fae38b8d471ac9e +5
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 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
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • >=3.2.100 <3.3
  • >=3.16.55 <3.17
  • >=4.14.24 <4.15
Fixed in
  • 94439cbe478b53f92223da9aae95fffb28623c3f
  • 5002beda5cac69d522dc54da0d5d463ed9c963d2
  • 4236c30b437b80f673b9e08c8fae38b8d471ac9e
  • 4.15
  • 3.17
  • 3.3
  • 1c428b03840094410c5fb6a5db30640486bbbfcb
  • 0f451b43c88bf2b9c038b414be580efee42e031b
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • =4.15
Fixed in–

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: hold dev ref until after transport_finish NF_HOOK After async crypto completes, xfrm_input_resume() calls dev_put() immediately on re-entry before the skb reaches transport_finish. The skb->dev pointer is then used inside NF_HOOK and its okfn, which can race with device teardown. Remove the dev_put from the async resumption entry and instead drop the reference after the NF_HOOK call in transport_finish, using a saved device pointer since NF_HOOK may consume the skb. This covers NF_DROP, NF_QUEUE and NF_STOLEN paths that skip the okfn. For non-transport exits (decaps, gro, drop) and secondary async return points, release the reference inline when async is set.

References

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