CVE-2026-31673

Local kernel compromise via stale VFS path dereference

Published Apr 25, 2026 · Updated Apr 25, 2026

A race condition in Linux Kernel allows local users to access freed VFS path data through an exact UNIX socket diagnostic lookup. The sk_diag_dump_vfs function in net/unix/diag.c dereferences u->path without unix_state_lock while unix_release_sock can clear it and release the path reference. Local low-privileged access and winning the socket-release race are required; a successful stale dereference permits kernel compromise or a host crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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

A race condition in Linux Kernel allows local users to access freed VFS path data through an exact UNIX socket diagnostic lookup. The sk_diag_dump_vfs function in net/unix/diag.c dereferences u->path without unix_state_lock while unix_release_sock can clear it and release the path reference. Local low-privileged access and winning the socket-release race are required; a successful stale dereference permits kernel compromise or a host crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-31673
Published
Apr 25, 2026
Updated
Apr 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 25, 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=3.3
  2. Affected versionversion=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <0c739f3785f84af695952c2bac8be2f45082c9b8
  3. Affected versionversion=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <39897df386376912d561d4946499379effa1e7ef
  4. Affected versionversion=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <900a4e0910e98b8caef117d5df00471fa438dcf9
  5. Affected versionversion=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <bdf206e740bf2919d818f132c8c9cc7ed91d11c0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=3.3; version=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <0c739f3785f84af695952c2bac8be2f45082c9b8; version=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <39897df386376912d561d4946499379effa1e7ef; version=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <900a4e0910e98b8caef117d5df00471fa438dcf9; version=5f7b0569460b7d8d01ca776430a00505a68b7584 <bdf206e740bf2919d818f132c8c9cc7ed91d11c0

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5OracleCVSS: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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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