# CVE-2026-31541: tracing: Fix trace_marker copy link list updates

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel tracing subsystem allows local attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges when the copy_trace_marker option is enabled.

- **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:** 24 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-31541, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31541, GHSA-mfcj-fwjx-5q54, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31541

## What is CVE-2026-31541?

CVE-2026-31541 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 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:

tracing: Fix trace_marker copy link list updates

When the "copy_trace_marker" option is enabled for an instance, anything
written into /sys/kernel/tracing/trace_marker is also copied into that
instances buffer. When the option is set, that instance's trace_array
descriptor is added to the marker_copies link list. This list is protected
by RCU, as all iterations uses an RCU protected list traversal.

When the instance is deleted, all the flags that were enabled are cleared.
This also clears the copy_trace_marker flag and removes the trace_array
descriptor from the list.

The issue is after the flags are called, a direct call to
update_marker_trace() is performed to clear the flag. This function
returns true if the state of the flag changed and false otherwise. If it
returns true here, synchronize_rcu() is called to make sure all readers
see that its removed from the list.

But since the flag was already cleared, the state does not change and the
synchronization is never called, leaving a possible UAF bug.

Move the clearing of all flags below the updating of the copy_trace_marker
option which then makes sure the synchronization is performed.

Also use the flag for checking the state in update_marker_trace() instead
of looking at if the list is empty.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-31541?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-31541?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-31541 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-31541 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-2026-31541 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-31541 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 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-2026-31541 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-2026-31541/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31541/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31541
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31541
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-31541

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31541/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.