System interruption via unchecked BPF exception locks
Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026
Improper locking in the Linux Kernel BPF verifier allows local users to interrupt system availability via a crafted BPF program. The process_bpf_exit_full() path passes a false check_lock value to check_resource_leak() when bpf_throw() exits a static subprogram, so the verifier skips active RCU, preemption, and IRQ lock validation even though ORC unwinding leaves those locks held. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and the ability to load an affected BPF program; the published record does not specify whether the resulting interruption is a hang, crash, reboot, or shutdown.
Summary
What happened
Improper locking in the Linux Kernel BPF verifier allows local users to interrupt system availability via a crafted BPF program. The process_bpf_exit_full() path passes a false check_lock value to check_resource_leak() when bpf_throw() exits a static subprogram, so the verifier skips active RCU, preemption, and IRQ lock validation even though ORC unwinding leaves those locks held. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and the ability to load an affected BPF program; the published record does not specify whether the resulting interruption is a hang, crash, reboot, or shutdown.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31526
- Published
- Apr 22, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 22, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-667, T1499.004
- 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.
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=6.7
- Affected versionversion=f18b03fabaa9b7c80e80b72a621f481f0d706ae0 <5a399f3117642494e35545f6ca397d3e177c1f9b
- Affected versionversion=f18b03fabaa9b7c80e80b72a621f481f0d706ae0 <6c2128505f61b504c79a20b89596feba61388112
- Affected versionversion=f18b03fabaa9b7c80e80b72a621f481f0d706ae0 <c0281da1f2aa5c2fca3a05f79b86bea96591c358
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
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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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