CVE-2026-31746 Linux CVE debrief

Who should care

Linux system administrators, security teams, and developers using or maintaining Linux kernel-based systems, especially those utilizing CCA cards for cryptographic acceleration, should assess exposure and prioritize verification and patching of affected systems.

Why it matters

A memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel affects systems using CCA cards for cryptographic acceleration. Linux system administrators and security teams should assess exposure, prioritize verification, and apply patches to prevent potential resource exhaustion and system instability.

• Memory leaks can lead to resource exhaustion and potential system instability.
• Verification of system configurations and usage of CCA cards is necessary to determine exposure.
• Applying patches from the Linux kernel source code is crucial to prevent exploitation.
• Monitoring system resources can help detect potential memory leak issues.

Technical summary

The Linux kernel was vulnerable to a memory leak when using CCA cards as accelerators for clear key RSA requests. This issue was resolved with patches available in the Linux kernel source code. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 6.16 to 6.18.22, 6.19 to 6.19.12, and 7.0 rc1 to rc6. The issue was caused by the older allocation not being freed in two places (ME and CRT). Linux system administrators and security teams should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected systems, especially those using CCA cards for cryptographic acceleration.

Defensive priority

Linux system administrators and security teams should assess exposure and prioritize verification of affected systems, especially those using CCA cards for cryptographic acceleration.

Recommended defensive actions

• Review Linux kernel versions and assess exposure based on used versions and configurations.
• Verify system configurations and usage of CCA cards for cryptographic acceleration.
• Apply available patches from the Linux kernel source code to affected systems.
• Monitor system resources for signs of memory leaks.
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented.
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review.
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up.

Evidence notes

The vulnerability was resolved with patches available in the Linux kernel source code. Official references and patches are provided by the Linux kernel maintainers. The patches are available in the Linux kernel source code, and users should apply them to affected systems. The issue was caused by the older allocation not being freed in two places (ME and CRT). The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 6.16 to 6.18.22, 6.19 to 6.19.12, and 7.0 rc1 to rc6.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.