# CVE-2026-31507: net/smc: fix double-free of smc_spd_priv when tee() duplicates splice pipe buffer
> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SMC network module allows local attackers to cause a kernel panic or potentially execute code via tee() on splice buffers.
- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 22 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-83312, BELL-CVE-2026-31507, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31507, GHSA-xf3q-f592-rmgx, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-31507, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-31507, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2026-31507, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2026-31507, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2026-31507, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31507
## What is CVE-2026-31507?
CVE-2026-31507 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:
net/smc: fix double-free of smc_spd_priv when tee() duplicates splice pipe buffer
smc_rx_splice() allocates one smc_spd_priv per pipe_buffer and stores
the pointer in pipe_buffer.private. The pipe_buf_operations for these
buffers used .get = generic_pipe_buf_get, which only increments the page
reference count when tee(2) duplicates a pipe buffer. The smc_spd_priv
pointer itself was not handled, so after tee() both the original and the
cloned pipe_buffer share the same smc_spd_priv *.
When both pipes are subsequently released, smc_rx_pipe_buf_release() is
called twice against the same object:
1st call: kfree(priv) sock_put(sk) smc_rx_update_cons() [correct]
2nd call: kfree(priv) sock_put(sk) smc_rx_update_cons() [UAF]
KASAN reports a slab-use-after-free in smc_rx_pipe_buf_release(), which
then escalates to a NULL-pointer dereference and kernel panic via
smc_rx_update_consumer() when it chases the freed priv->smc pointer:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in smc_rx_pipe_buf_release+0x78/0x2a0
Read of size 8 at addr ffff888004a45740 by task smc_splice_tee_/74
Call Trace:
dump_stack_lvl+0x53/0x70
print_report+0xce/0x650
kasan_report+0xc6/0x100
smc_rx_pipe_buf_release+0x78/0x2a0
free_pipe_info+0xd4/0x130
pipe_release+0x142/0x160
__fput+0x1c6/0x490
__x64_sys_close+0x4f/0x90
do_syscall_64+0xa6/0x1a0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000020
RIP: 0010:smc_rx_update_consumer+0x8d/0x350
Call Trace:
smc_rx_pipe_buf_release+0x121/0x2a0
free_pipe_info+0xd4/0x130
pipe_release+0x142/0x160
__fput+0x1c6/0x490
__x64_sys_close+0x4f/0x90
do_syscall_64+0xa6/0x1a0
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception
Beyond the memory-safety problem, duplicating an SMC splice buffer is
semantically questionable: smc_rx_update_cons() would advance the
consumer cursor twice for the same data, corrupting receive-window
accounting. A refcount on smc_spd_priv could fix the double-free, but
the cursor-accounting issue would still need to be addressed separately.
The .get callback is invoked by both tee(2) and splice_pipe_to_pipe()
for partial transfers; both will now return -EFAULT. Users who need
to duplicate SMC socket data must use a copy-based read path.
Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)
## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-31507?
It affects 1 product.
Products: Linux kernel.
## How do I fix CVE-2026-31507?
Apply the vendor's patch.
## Is CVE-2026-31507 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-31507 in the wild and no public exploit code.
## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
## Fix prompt for AI coding agents
```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-31507 and fix it if it is affected.
What it is: CVE-2026-31507 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-31507 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.
Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.
Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31507/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31507/index.md)
```
## Sources
- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31507
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31507
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-31507
---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31507/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.