CVE-2026-31436Network attack vector

Kernel crash via wrong descriptor completion

Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026

Incorrect descriptor completion in Linux Kernel allows remote attackers to crash the kernel through IDXD descriptor abort handling. The final loop in llist_abort_desc() traverses the failed list with d but repeatedly completes found, causing NULL dereferences, duplicate completion, or descriptor leaks. The CNA vector requires no privileges or user interaction, but the public record does not identify the network input or configuration that reaches this driver path.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect descriptor completion in Linux Kernel allows remote attackers to crash the kernel through IDXD descriptor abort handling. The final loop in llist_abort_desc() traverses the failed list with d but repeatedly completes found, causing NULL dereferences, duplicate completion, or descriptor leaks. The CNA vector requires no privileges or user interaction, but the public record does not identify the network input or configuration that reaches this driver path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-31436
Published
Apr 22, 2026
Updated
Apr 22, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 22, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.8
  2. Affected versionversion=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <0e4f43779d550e559be13a5cdb763bad92c4cc99
  3. Affected versionversion=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <82656e8daf8de00935ae91b91bed43f4d6e0d644
  4. Affected versionversion=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <e1c9866173c5f8521f2d0768547a01508cb9ff27
  5. Affected versionversion=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <e21da2ad8844585040fe4b82be1ad2fe99d40074

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.8; version=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <0e4f43779d550e559be13a5cdb763bad92c4cc99; version=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <82656e8daf8de00935ae91b91bed43f4d6e0d644; version=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <e1c9866173c5f8521f2d0768547a01508cb9ff27; version=aa8d18becc0c14aa3eb46d6d1b81450446e11b87 <e21da2ad8844585040fe4b82be1ad2fe99d40074

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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