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CVE Record

CVE-2026-31703: writeback: Fix use after free in inode_switch_wbs_work_fn()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: writeback: Fix use after free in inode_switch_wbs_work_fn() inode_switch_wbs_work_fn() has a loop like: wb_get(new_wb); while (1) { list = llist_del_all(&new_wb->switch_wbs_ctxs); /* Nothing to do? */ if (!list) break; ... process the items ... } Now adding of items to the list looks like: wb_queue_isw() if (llist_add(&isw->list, &wb->switch_wbs_ctxs)) queue_work(isw_wq, &wb->switch_work); Because inode_switch_wbs_work_fn() loops when processing isw items, it can happen that wb->switch_work is pending while wb->switch_wbs_ctxs is empty. This is a problem because in that case wb can get freed (no isw items -> no wb reference) while the work is still pending causing use-after-free issues. We cannot just fix this by cancelling work when freeing wb because that could still trigger problematic 0 -> 1 transitions on wb refcount due to wb_get() in inode_switch_wbs_work_fn(). It could be all handled with more careful code but that seems unnecessarily complex so let's avoid that until it is proven that the looping actually brings practical benefit. Just remove the loop from inode_switch_wbs_work_fn() instead. That way when wb_queue_isw() queues work, we are guaranteed we have added the first item to wb->switch_wbs_ctxs and nobody is going to remove it (and drop the wb reference it holds) until the queued work runs.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux kernel writeback worker can access memory after its backing object has been freed. A local user with limited privileges may potentially compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. The source bundle does not establish that exploitation is practical in every affected configuration.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel update for affected multi-user systems and systems running untrusted local workloads. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but successful local exploitation could have severe system-wide consequences. Confirm distribution-specific status promptly.

Technical view

A race in inode_switch_wbs_work_fn() can leave switch_work pending while switch_wbs_ctxs is empty. Without a queued item holding a reference, the writeback object may be freed before pending work executes, causing a use-after-free. The kernel fix removes the processing loop to preserve the required object lifetime.

Likely exposure

The bundle lists Linux versions 6.18, 6.18.25, 7.0.2, and 7.1 as affected, plus an ambiguous entry labeled "0." Exposure requires local, low-privileged access. Distribution backports may alter exposure, so package-level vendor confirmation is necessary.

Exploitation context

The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local access, low complexity, low privileges, and no user interaction. The bundle marks the CVE as absent from KEV and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit.

Researcher notes

The issue is classified as CWE-825 and concerns writeback-object lifetime management around queued work. The source explains the race and corrective design, but does not demonstrate exploitability, identify triggering configurations, or provide reliable version-range semantics for the anomalous "0" entry.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade to a vendor-supported kernel release containing the applicable stable fix.
  • Use the referenced stable commits to verify backport status for each deployed kernel.
  • Where immediate patching is impossible, reduce untrusted local access and monitor vendor guidance.
  • Reboot into the corrected kernel after installation and confirm it is running.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux hosts, appliances, and virtual-machine guests.
  • Compare each distribution package against vendor advisories and the referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm the installed fix survives reboot by checking the active kernel version.
  • Review kernel logs for unexplained writeback-related crashes; absence does not prove safety.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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ATT&CK lookup starting points

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-825: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-31703 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
1ADP providers
10Source links

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux
7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-31703Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

redhat-SADPkernel: writeback: Fix use after free in inode_switch_wbs_work_fn()
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-05-01T00:00:00.000Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-05-01T00:00:00.000Z: Made public.
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxd072b38a64ddbc2d58c2e525a24af24ecbfebcb7, ac7b2c21f2269d815ad0cdf0f8258d55185b805c, fabfc1fcddc5d8185722d4fde5f0968c4760b71e, e1b849cfa6b61f1c866a908c9e8dd9b5aaab820b, e1b849cfa6b61f1c866a908c9e8dd9b5aaab820b, e1b849cfa6b61f1c866a908c9e8dd9b5aaab820bunaffected
LinuxLinux6.18, 0, 6.18.25, 7.0.2, 7.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-825 · source CWE mapping

Expired Pointer Dereference

Expired Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.