CVE-2026-31504

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.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

7.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0001

Probability of exploitation

0.02%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-416 Use After Free

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
linux	linux_kernel	3.1.1 — 5.10.253
linux	linux_kernel	5.11 — 5.15.203
linux	linux_kernel	5.16 — 6.1.168
linux	linux_kernel	6.2 — 6.6.131
linux	linux_kernel	6.7 — 6.12.80
linux	linux_kernel	6.13 — 6.18.21
linux	linux_kernel	6.19 — 6.19.11
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All
linux	linux_kernel	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b4c03f8892d955385c202009af7485364731bb9 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/42156f93d123436f2a27c468f18c966b7e5db796 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/42cfd7898eeed290c9fb73f732af1f7d6b0a703e https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/654386baef228c2992dbf604c819e4c7c35fc71b https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/75fe6db23705a1d55160081f7b37db9665b1880b https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ceccbfc6de720ad633519a226715989cfb065af1 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0c7cdc15fdf8c4f91aca1928e52295d175b6ec6 https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee642b1962caa9aa231c01abbd58bc453ae6b66e

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-31504? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-31504? +

CVE-2026-31504 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0001, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-31504? +

CVE-2026-31504 affects products from linux, specifically: linux_kernel. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-31504? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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