CVE-2026-31458

Kernel crash via unchecked empty DAMON contexts

Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel allows local users to crash the kernel through privileged DAMON sysfs commands. damon_sysfs_handle_cmd() accepts non-OFF state commands when contexts->nr is zero, and command handlers dereference contexts_arr[0]. Reaching the flaw requires privilege to configure a running DAMON instance; the resulting NULL dereference interrupts the host.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel allows local users to crash the kernel through privileged DAMON sysfs commands. damon_sysfs_handle_cmd() accepts non-OFF state commands when contexts->nr is zero, and command handlers dereference contexts_arr[0]. Reaching the flaw requires privilege to configure a running DAMON instance; the resulting NULL dereference interrupts the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-31458
Published
Apr 22, 2026
Updated
Apr 22, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

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=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <1bfe9fb5ed2667fb075682408b776b5273162615
  2. Affected versionversion=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <1e8da792672481d603fa7cd0d815577220a3ee27
  3. Affected versionversion=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <708033c231bd782858f4ddbb46ee874a5a5fbdab
  4. Affected versionversion=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <aba546061341b56e9ffb37e1eb661a3628b6ec12
  5. Affected versionversion=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <bbe03ad3fb9e714191757ca7b41582f930be7be2
  6. Affected versionversion=5.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <1bfe9fb5ed2667fb075682408b776b5273162615; version=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <1e8da792672481d603fa7cd0d815577220a3ee27; version=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <708033c231bd782858f4ddbb46ee874a5a5fbdab; version=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <aba546061341b56e9ffb37e1eb661a3628b6ec12; version=0ac32b8affb5a384253dbb8339bd2d0e91add0b7 <bbe03ad3fb9e714191757ca7b41582f930be7be2; version=5.18

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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