HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2026-31526
MEDIUM

CVE-2026-31526

Published: April 22, 2026· Updated: Apr 28, 2026

5.5
CVSS v3.1
EPSS:0.02%probability of exploitation in 30 daysPercentile:4.1th

Official Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

bpf: Fix exception exit lock checking for subprogs

process_bpf_exit_full() passes check_lock = !curframe to

check_resource_leak(), which is false in cases when bpf_throw() is

called from a static subprog. This makes check_resource_leak() to skip

validation of active_rcu_locks, active_preempt_locks, and

active_irq_id on exception exits from subprogs.

At runtime bpf_throw() unwinds the stack via ORC without releasing any

user-acquired locks, which may cause various issues as the result.

Fix by setting check_lock = true for exception exits regardless of

curframe, since exceptions bypass all intermediate frame

cleanup. Update the error message prefix to "bpf_throw" for exception

exits to distinguish them from normal BPF_EXIT.

Fix reject_subprog_with_rcu_read_lock test which was previously

passing for the wrong reason. Test program returned directly from the

subprog call without closing the RCU section, so the error was

triggered by the unclosed RCU lock on normal exit, not by

bpf_throw. Update __msg annotations for affected tests to match the

new "bpf_throw" error prefix.

The spin_lock case is not affected because they are already checked [1]

at the call site in do_check_insn() before bpf_throw can run.

[1] https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/kernel/bpf/verifier.c?h=v7.0-rc4#n21098

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-31526 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 5.5.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Linux1 product
linux kernel
Source: NVD CPE · 2 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

All References (3)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2026-31526
CVSS Score5.5 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
CISA KEVNo
EPSS (30d)0.02%
Affected1 vendor
PublishedApr 22, 2026

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2026-31526 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.