CVE-2026-31444
9.8 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2026-31444 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on April 22, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ksmbd: fix use-after-free and NULL deref in smb_grant_oplock()
smb_grant_oplock() has two issues in the oplock publication sequence:
1) opinfo is linked into ci->m_op_list (via opinfo_add) before
add_lease_global_list() is called. If add_lease_global_list()
fails (kmalloc returns NULL), the error path frees the opinfo
via __free_opinfo() while it is still linked in ci->m_op_list.
Concurrent m_op_list readers (opinfo_get_list, or direct iteration
in smb_break_all_levII_oplock) dereference the freed node.
2) opinfo->o_fp is assigned after add_lease_global_list() publishes
the opinfo on the global lease list. A concurrent
find_same_lease_key() can walk the lease list and dereference
opinfo->o_fp->f_ci while o_fp is still NULL.
Fix by restructuring the publication sequence to eliminate post-publish
failure:
- Set opinfo->o_fp before any list publication (fixes NULL deref).
- Preallocate leas
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 6.12.78, < 6.12.80 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-31444?
CVE-2026-31444 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on April 22, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2026-31444?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-31444?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-31444?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-31444 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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