Local kernel crash via misaligned page-table free
Published Apr 27, 2026 · Updated Apr 27, 2026
Double free in Linux Kernel KASAN allows local users with CAP_SYS_ADMIN to crash the kernel during PMEM unbind or memory hotplug. kasan_free_pxd() converts a slab-backed 4 KiB PUD table through page_to_virt(pxd_page()), incorrectly assuming page alignment on PowerPC systems with 64 KiB pages. The demonstrated path requires PowerPC, 64 KiB pages, KASAN, PMEM, and root-equivalent capability access; triggering it interrupts service by crashing the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Double free in Linux Kernel KASAN allows local users with CAP_SYS_ADMIN to crash the kernel during PMEM unbind or memory hotplug. kasan_free_pxd() converts a slab-backed 4 KiB PUD table through page_to_virt(pxd_page()), incorrectly assuming page alignment on PowerPC systems with 64 KiB pages. The demonstrated path requires PowerPC, 64 KiB pages, KASAN, PMEM, and root-equivalent capability access; triggering it interrupts service by crashing the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31686
- Published
- Apr 27, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 27, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-415, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 27, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=0207df4fa1a869281ddbf72db6203dbf036b3e1a <51d8c78be0c27ddb91bc2c0263941d8b30a47d3b
- Affected versionversion=0207df4fa1a869281ddbf72db6203dbf036b3e1a <85d98614e089a67dc6faa8ca766fe10a639f82b4
- Affected versionversion=0207df4fa1a869281ddbf72db6203dbf036b3e1a <a05f77cb227c39c5069aea6f12762a29d1e6c103
- Affected versionversion=0207df4fa1a869281ddbf72db6203dbf036b3e1a <b38237a2ea9c6c19836eee2c57037e1f9f103576
- Affected versionversion=0207df4fa1a869281ddbf72db6203dbf036b3e1a <cec74b2ab7dff866b1d77eaa545b9e8fd14a1f87
- Affected versionversion=0207df4fa1a869281ddbf72db6203dbf036b3e1a <f6204f7ff6aff62ce6242a76982c5ba3a9ded707
- Affected versionversion=4.19
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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