Authenticated kernel memory corruption via malformed inherited DACL
Published May 1, 2026 · Updated May 1, 2026
Memory corruption in Linux Kernel ksmbd allows remote authenticated users to crash the server via a malformed parent DACL. smb_inherit_dacl() trusts the DACL xattr's num_aces when sizing a heap allocation and accepts undersized ACEs while walking partially initialized memory. The path requires an ACL-enabled ksmbd share plus write or ACL-setting access to a tampered parent security.NTACL; it can expose kernel data, corrupt ACL state, and destabilize or crash the server.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in Linux Kernel ksmbd allows remote authenticated users to crash the server via a malformed parent DACL. smb_inherit_dacl() trusts the DACL xattr's num_aces when sizing a heap allocation and accepts undersized ACEs while walking partially initialized memory. The path requires an ACL-enabled ksmbd share plus write or ACL-setting access to a tampered parent security.NTACL; it can expose kernel data, corrupt ACL state, and destabilize or crash the server.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31706
- Published
- May 1, 2026
- Updated
- May 1, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 1, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 1, 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=5.15
- Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <063a7409b0de46d7c770b65bb0338e6fdb3b1f0a
- Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <3e4e2ea2a781018ed5d75f969e3e5606beb66e48
- Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <3e5360b422dd741cb315654a191fa73869a37414
- Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <59c32abaaec9cdd6164811c7e864e72f7554b82d
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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