CVE-2026-31688

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: driver core: enforce device_lock for driver_match_device() Currently, driver_match_device() is called from three sites. One site (__device_attach_driver) holds device_lock(dev), but the other two (bind_store and __driver_attach) do not. This inconsistency means that bus match() callbacks are not guaranteed to be called with the lock held. Fix this by introducing driver_match_device_locked(), which guarantees holding the device lock using a scoped guard. Replace the unlocked calls in bind_store() and __driver_attach() with this new helper. Also add a lock assertion to driver_match_device() to enforce this guarantee. This consistency also fixes a known race condition. The driver_override implementation relies on the device_lock, so the missing lock led to the use-after-free (UAF) reported in Bugzilla for buses using this field. Stress testing the two newly locked paths for 24 hours with CONFIG_PROVE_LOCKING and CONFIG_LOCKDEP enabled showed no UAF recurrence and no lockdep warnings.

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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

0.0002

Probability of exploitation

0.03%

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	2.6.30 — 7.0

References

Advisories & Patches

https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc23806a7c47ec5f1293aba407fb69519f976ee0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-31688? +

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: driver core: enforce device_lock for driver_match_device() Currently, driver_match_device() is called from three sites. One site (__device_attach_driver) holds device_lock(dev), but the other two (bind_store and __driver_attach) do not. This inconsistency means that bus match() callbacks are not guaranteed to be called with the lock held. Fix this by introducing driver_match_device_locked(), which guarantees holding the device lock using a scoped guard. Replace the unlocked calls in bind_store() and __driver_attach() with this new helper. Also add a lock assertion to driver_match_device() to enforce this guarantee. This consistency also fixes a known race condition. The driver_override implementation relies on the device_lock, so the missing lock led to the use-after-free (UAF) reported in Bugzilla for buses using this field. Stress testing the two newly locked paths for 24 hours with CONFIG_PROVE_LOCKING and CONFIG_LOCKDEP enabled showed no UAF recurrence and no lockdep warnings. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-31688? +

CVE-2026-31688 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 0.0002, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-31688? +

CVE-2026-31688 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-2026-31688? +

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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