CVE-2026-31652

Kernel memory leak via repeated DAMON enablement

Published Apr 24, 2026 · Updated Apr 24, 2026

Memory leak in Linux Kernel 6.17 allows local users to leak kernel memory by re-enabling DAMON_STAT after damon_call() fails. Each damon_stat_start() call allocates damon_stat_context, but the failure path retains that context when enabled is written as Y again. Triggering requires CONFIG_DAMON_STAT=y and local permission to change its enabled module parameter; no direct data access is reported.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.11%
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 Linux Kernel 6.17 allows local users to leak kernel memory by re-enabling DAMON_STAT after damon_call() fails. Each damon_stat_start() call allocates damon_stat_context, but the failure path retains that context when enabled is written as Y again. Triggering requires CONFIG_DAMON_STAT=y and local permission to change its enabled module parameter; no direct data access is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-31652
Published
Apr 24, 2026
Updated
Apr 24, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 24, 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=405f61996d9d2e9d497cd9f6b66f41dc28d3d1d8 <16c92e9bf55fa049ddb5e894dc0623dacd46a620
  2. Affected versionversion=405f61996d9d2e9d497cd9f6b66f41dc28d3d1d8 <447f8870b484f6596d7a7130e72bd0a3f1e037bb
  3. Affected versionversion=405f61996d9d2e9d497cd9f6b66f41dc28d3d1d8 <4c04c6b47c361612b1d70cec8f7a60b1482d1400
  4. Affected versionversion=6.17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=405f61996d9d2e9d497cd9f6b66f41dc28d3d1d8 <16c92e9bf55fa049ddb5e894dc0623dacd46a620; version=405f61996d9d2e9d497cd9f6b66f41dc28d3d1d8 <447f8870b484f6596d7a7130e72bd0a3f1e037bb; version=405f61996d9d2e9d497cd9f6b66f41dc28d3d1d8 <4c04c6b47c361612b1d70cec8f7a60b1482d1400; version=6.17

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

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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