CVE-2026-31584
HighIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: mediatek: vcodec: fix use-after-free in encoder release path The fops_vcodec_release() function frees the context structure (ctx) without first cancelling any pending or running work in ctx->encode_work. This creates a race window where the workqueue handler (mtk_venc_worker) may still be accessing the context memory after it has been freed. Race condition: CPU 0 (release path) CPU 1 (workqueue) --------------------- ------------------ fops_vcodec_release() v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() v4l2_m2m_cancel_job() // waits for m2m job "done" mtk_venc_worker() v4l2_m2m_job_finish() // m2m job "done" // BUT worker still running! // post-job_finish access: other ctx dereferences // UAF if ctx already freed // returns (job "done") kfree(ctx) // ctx freed Root cause: The v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() only waits for the m2m job lifecycle (via TRANS_RUNNING flag), not the workqueue lifecycle. After v4l2_m2m_job_finish() is called, the m2m framework considers the job complete and v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() returns, but the worker function continues executing and may still access ctx. The work is queued during encode operations via: queue_work(ctx->dev->encode_workqueue, &ctx->encode_work) The worker function accesses ctx->m2m_ctx, ctx->dev, and other ctx fields even after calling v4l2_m2m_job_finish(). This vulnerability was confirmed with KASAN by running an instrumented test module that widens the post-job_finish race window. KASAN detected: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in mtk_venc_worker+0x159/0x180 Read of size 4 at addr ffff88800326e000 by task kworker/u8:0/12 Workqueue: mtk_vcodec_enc_wq mtk_venc_worker Allocated by task 47: __kasan_kmalloc+0x7f/0x90 fops_vcodec_open+0x85/0x1a0 Freed by task 47: __kasan_slab_free+0x43/0x70 kfree+0xee/0x3a0 fops_vcodec_release+0xb7/0x190 Fix this by calling cancel_work_sync(&ctx->encode_work) before kfree(ctx). This ensures the workqueue handler is both cancelled (if pending) and synchronized (waits for any running handler to complete) before the context is freed. Placement rationale: The fix is placed after v4l2_ctrl_handler_free() and before list_del_init(&ctx->list). At this point, all m2m operations are done (v4l2_m2m_ctx_release() has returned), and we need to ensure the workqueue is synchronized before removing ctx from the list and freeing it. Note: The open error path does NOT need cancel_work_sync() because INIT_WORK() only initializes the work structure - it does not schedule it. Work is only scheduled later during device_run() operations.
CVSS 3.1 score
7.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness type
CWE-416CVE-2026-31584 is a Use After Free vulnerability
What is Use After Free?
The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Learn more on MITRE CWE
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
6.6
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.6.136,
6.12.83,
6.18.24,
6.19.14,
7.0.1,
7.1-rc1
and their respective stable series.
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2026-31584 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76e35091ffc722ba39b303e48bc5d08abb59dd56
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/93d9a58961a9e09306857e999b3ee76aa4be67f0
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a9bdaf9dc42ccca50e53f82165292f74a365c11
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2026-31584?
CVE-2026-31584 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.6 onward and has been patched in 6.6.136, 6.12.83, 6.18.24 and others. CVE-2026-31584 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-31584?
CVE-2026-31584 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. -
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-31584?
Yes — CVE-2026-31584 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.136, 6.12.83, 6.18.24 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.6 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2026-31584 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2026-31584 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
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What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?
The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. View CWE-416 on MITRE CWE →