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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-31773: Linux kernel · Improper Authentication

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High · fixed in b1c6a8e554a39b222c0879a288ea98e338fc4d77 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
8.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 20% 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 b1c6a8e554a39b222c0879a288ea98e338fc4d77, 20756fec2f0108cb88e815941f1ffff88dc286fe, 929db734d12db41ca5f95424db4612397f1bd4a7 +6
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 1 May 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
  • >=3.15.5 <3.16
Fixed in
  • b1c6a8e554a39b222c0879a288ea98e338fc4d77
  • 20756fec2f0108cb88e815941f1ffff88dc286fe
  • 929db734d12db41ca5f95424db4612397f1bd4a7
  • 667f44f1392df6482483756458c48670e579e9ff
  • 061ee71ac6b03c9f8432fe49538c3682bfcf4cf3
  • 9a38659a3d06080715691bd3139f9c4b61f688e3
  • 9a6d0db176f082685e0b6149700c0baf3ce2aa8b
  • 3.16
  • 0afc846bd80073ffcd2b8040f2b2fafaea3d9f72
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • =3.16
Fixed in–

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: SMP: derive legacy responder STK authentication from MITM state The legacy responder path in smp_random() currently labels the stored STK as authenticated whenever pending_sec_level is BT_SECURITY_HIGH. That reflects what the local service requested, not what the pairing flow actually achieved. For Just Works/Confirm legacy pairing, SMP_FLAG_MITM_AUTH stays clear and the resulting STK should remain unauthenticated even if the local side requested HIGH security. Use the established MITM state when storing the responder STK so the key metadata matches the pairing result. This also keeps the legacy path aligned with the Secure Connections code, which already treats JUST_WORKS/JUST_CFM as unauthenticated.

References

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