CVE-2026-31459

Kernel memory exhaustion via leaked DAMON context

Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026

Memory leak in the DAMON sysfs interface of affected Linux kernel versions allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through repeated commits. damon_sysfs_commit_input() allocates param_ctx, but an allocation failure in damon_sysfs_new_test_ctx() takes an early return that bypasses the cleanup label. Exploitation requires CONFIG_DAMON_SYSFS and privileged access to its control files, and the resulting impact is limited to service interruption through memory exhaustion.

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

Memory leak in the DAMON sysfs interface of affected Linux kernel versions allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through repeated commits. damon_sysfs_commit_input() allocates param_ctx, but an allocation failure in damon_sysfs_new_test_ctx() takes an early return that bypasses the cleanup label. Exploitation requires CONFIG_DAMON_SYSFS and privileged access to its control files, and the resulting impact is limited to service interruption through memory exhaustion.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-31459
Published
Apr 22, 2026
Updated
Apr 22, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-401, 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=5b3609d9b9650bdea0bfdf643e0ce57e1aed67fc
  2. Affected versionversion=6.18
  3. Affected versionversion=f0c5118ebb0eb7e4fd6f0d2ace3315ca141b317f <7fe000eb32904758a85e62f6ea9483f89d5dabfc
  4. Affected versionversion=f0c5118ebb0eb7e4fd6f0d2ace3315ca141b317f <e9de9f3ce06b133a348006668bc8d25c6e504867
  5. Affected versionversion=f0c5118ebb0eb7e4fd6f0d2ace3315ca141b317f <f76f0a964bc3d7b7e253b43c669c41356bc54e71

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5b3609d9b9650bdea0bfdf643e0ce57e1aed67fc; version=6.18; version=f0c5118ebb0eb7e4fd6f0d2ace3315ca141b317f <7fe000eb32904758a85e62f6ea9483f89d5dabfc; version=f0c5118ebb0eb7e4fd6f0d2ace3315ca141b317f <e9de9f3ce06b133a348006668bc8d25c6e504867; version=f0c5118ebb0eb7e4fd6f0d2ace3315ca141b317f <f76f0a964bc3d7b7e253b43c669c41356bc54e71

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-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
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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