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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-31788: Linux kernel · xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.2 High · fixed in cbede2e833da1893afbea9b3ff29b5dda23a4a91 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:18 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
8.2High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% 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 cbede2e833da1893afbea9b3ff29b5dda23a4a91, 1879319d790f7d57622cdc22807b60ea78b56b6d, 78432d8f0372c71c518096395537fa12be7ff24e +5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 25 Mar 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
  • ≥ 1c5de1939c204bde9cce87f4eb3d26e9f9eb732b, < cbede2e833da1893afbea9b3ff29b5dda23a4a91
Fixed in
  • cbede2e833da1893afbea9b3ff29b5dda23a4a91
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1c5de1939c204bde9cce87f4eb3d26e9f9eb732b, < 1879319d790f7d57622cdc22807b60ea78b56b6d
Fixed in
  • 1879319d790f7d57622cdc22807b60ea78b56b6d
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1c5de1939c204bde9cce87f4eb3d26e9f9eb732b, < 78432d8f0372c71c518096395537fa12be7ff24e
Fixed in
  • 78432d8f0372c71c518096395537fa12be7ff24e
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1c5de1939c204bde9cce87f4eb3d26e9f9eb732b, < 453b8fb68f3641fea970db88b7d9a153ed2a37e8
Fixed in
  • 453b8fb68f3641fea970db88b7d9a153ed2a37e8
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1c5de1939c204bde9cce87f4eb3d26e9f9eb732b, < 389bae9a4409934e8b8d4dbdaaf02a3ae71cf8e4
Fixed in
  • 389bae9a4409934e8b8d4dbdaaf02a3ae71cf8e4
LinuxLinuxAffected
  • ≥ 1c5de1939c204bde9cce87f4eb3d26e9f9eb732b, < 87a803edb2ded911cb587c53bff179d2a2ed2a28
Fixed in
  • 87a803edb2ded911cb587c53bff179d2a2ed2a28

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary hypercalls from user space processes. This is normally no problem, as access is usually limited to root and the hypervisor will deny any hypercalls affecting other domains. In case the guest is booted using secure boot, however, the privcmd driver would be enabling a root user process to modify e.g. kernel memory contents, thus breaking the secure boot feature. The only known case where an unprivileged domU is really needing to use the privcmd driver is the case when it is acting as the device model for another guest. In this case all hypercalls issued via the privcmd driver will target that other guest. Fortunately the privcmd driver can already be locked down to allow only hypercalls targeting a specific domain, but this mode can be activated from user land only today. The target domain can be obtained from Xenstore, so when not running in dom0 restrict the privcmd driver to that target domain from the beginning, resolving the potential problem of breaking secure boot. This is XSA-482 --- V2: - defer reading from Xenstore if Xenstore isn't ready yet (Jan Beulich) - wait in open() if target domain isn't known yet - issue message in case no target domain found (Jan Beulich)

References

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