CVE-2026-31473 media: mc, v4l2: serialize REINIT and REQBUFS with req_queue_mutex
A race condition in the Linux kernel media subsystem allows use-after-free, potentially enabling local attackers to execute code or escalate privileges.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-31473?
CVE-2026-31473 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 22 Apr 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: mc, v4l2: serialize REINIT and REQBUFS with req_queue_mutex
MEDIA_REQUEST_IOC_REINIT can run concurrently with VIDIOC_REQBUFS(0) queue teardown paths. This can race request object cleanup against vb2 queue cancellation and lead to use-after-free reports.
We already serialize request queueing against STREAMON/OFF with req_queue_mutex. Extend that serialization to REQBUFS, and also take the same mutex in media_request_ioctl_reinit() so REINIT is in the same exclusion domain.
This keeps request cleanup and queue cancellation from running in parallel for request-capable devices.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-31473?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-31473?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-31473 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-31473 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-83378, BELL-CVE-2026-31473, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31473, GHSA-3535-jv42-vvc3, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-31473, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-31473 and 4 more.