CVE-2026-31511 Bluetooth: MGMT: Fix dangling pointer on mgmt_add_adv_patterns_monitor_complete
A dangling pointer in the Linux kernel Bluetooth subsystem allows attackers to trigger a use-after-free, potentially leading to code execution or system crashes.
- 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-2026-31511?
CVE-2026-31511 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:
Bluetooth: MGMT: Fix dangling pointer on mgmt_add_adv_patterns_monitor_complete
This fixes the condition checking so mgmt_pending_valid is executed whenever status != -ECANCELED otherwise calling mgmt_pending_free(cmd) would kfree(cmd) without unlinking it from the list first, leaving a dangling pointer. Any subsequent list traversal (e.g., mgmt_pending_foreach during __mgmt_power_off, or another mgmt_pending_valid call) would dereference freed memory.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-31511?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-31511?
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-2026-31511 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-31511 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-31511, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31511, GHSA-q648-4769-6m83, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2026-31511, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2026-31511, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31511.