CVE-2026-31726

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: gadget: uvc: fix NULL pointer dereference during unbind race Commit b81ac4395bbe ("usb: gadget: uvc: allow for application to cleanly shutdown") introduced two stages of synchronization waits totaling 1500ms in uvc_function_unbind() to prevent several types of kernel panics. However, this timing-based approach is insufficient during power management (PM) transitions. When the PM subsystem starts freezing user space processes, the wait_event_interruptible_timeout() is aborted early, which allows the unbind thread to proceed and nullify the gadget pointer (cdev->gadget = NULL): [ 814.123447][ T947] configfs-gadget.g1 gadget.0: uvc: uvc_function_unbind() [ 814.178583][ T3173] PM: suspend entry (deep) [ 814.192487][ T3173] Freezing user space processes [ 814.197668][ T947] configfs-gadget.g1 gadget.0: uvc: uvc_function_unbind no clean disconnect, wait for release When the PM subsystem resumes or aborts the suspend and tasks are restarted, the V4L2 release path is executed and attempts to access the already nullified gadget pointer, triggering a kernel panic: [ 814.292597][ C0] PM: pm_system_irq_wakeup: 479 triggered dhdpcie_host_wake [ 814.386727][ T3173] Restarting tasks ... [ 814.403522][ T4558] Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000000000030 [ 814.404021][ T4558] pc : usb_gadget_deactivate+0x14/0xf4 [ 814.404031][ T4558] lr : usb_function_deactivate+0x54/0x94 [ 814.404078][ T4558] Call trace: [ 814.404080][ T4558] usb_gadget_deactivate+0x14/0xf4 [ 814.404083][ T4558] usb_function_deactivate+0x54/0x94 [ 814.404087][ T4558] uvc_function_disconnect+0x1c/0x5c [ 814.404092][ T4558] uvc_v4l2_release+0x44/0xac [ 814.404095][ T4558] v4l2_release+0xcc/0x130 Address the race condition and NULL pointer dereference by: 1. State Synchronization (flag + mutex) Introduce a 'func_unbound' flag in struct uvc_device. This allows uvc_function_disconnect() to safely skip accessing the nullified cdev->gadget pointer. As suggested by Alan Stern, this flag is protected by a new mutex (uvc->lock) to ensure proper memory ordering and prevent instruction reordering or speculative loads. This mutex is also used to protect 'func_connected' for consistent state management. 2. Explicit Synchronization (completion) Use a completion to synchronize uvc_function_unbind() with the uvc_vdev_release() callback. This prevents Use-After-Free (UAF) by ensuring struct uvc_device is freed after all video device resources are released.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-05-01
Last modified 2026-05-07
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10
Medium
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2026-31726 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.10.117, 5.15.41, 5.17.9, 5.18 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168, 6.6.134, 6.12.81, 6.18.22, 6.19.12, 7.0 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.10.117 ≥ 5.15.41 ≥ 5.17.9 ≥ 5.18
Fixed in
✓ 5.10.253 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.203 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.168 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.134 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.81 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.22 6.18.x ✓ 6.19.12 6.19.x ✓ 7.0

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2026-31726 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-31726?

    CVE-2026-31726 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.10.117 onward and has been patched in 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168 and others. CVE-2026-31726 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-31726?

    CVE-2026-31726 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-31726?

    Yes — CVE-2026-31726 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.253, 5.15.203, 6.1.168 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.10.117 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-31726 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2026-31726 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

    The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →