Root escalation via AEAD page-cache overwrite
Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026
Privilege escalation in Linux Kernel allows local users to gain root access on affected systems through the AF_ALG AEAD interface. The algif_aead in-place path chains splice-supplied page-cache pages into a writable destination scatterlist, letting authencesn write four attacker-controlled bytes past the output boundary. Low-privileged local access and CRYPTO_USER_API_AEAD are sufficient; corrupting a readable setuid binary's cached image enables execution as root.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Linux Kernel allows local users to gain root access on affected systems through the AF_ALG AEAD interface. The algif_aead in-place path chains splice-supplied page-cache pages into a writable destination scatterlist, letting authencesn write four attacker-controlled bytes past the output boundary. Low-privileged local access and CRYPTO_USER_API_AEAD are sufficient; corrupting a readable setuid binary's cached image enables execution as root.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31431
- Published
- Apr 22, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 22, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-1288, CWE-669, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 22, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
- May 1, 2026Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=4.14
- Affected versionversion=72548b093ee38a6d4f2a19e6ef1948ae05c181f7 <a664bf3d603dc3bdcf9ae47cc21e0daec706d7a5
- Affected versionversion=72548b093ee38a6d4f2a19e6ef1948ae05c181f7 <ce42ee423e58dffa5ec03524054c9d8bfd4f6237
- Affected versionversion=72548b093ee38a6d4f2a19e6ef1948ae05c181f7 <fafe0fa2995a0f7073c1c358d7d3145bcc9aedd8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Copy Fail reference exploitfunctional · demonstrated
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Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entryknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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