How to Fix CVE-2026-31406: Linux (Bundle Sibling)

*By Sai Kiran Pandrala*

Last verified: 2026-05-25

CVE-2026-31406 is a sibling vulnerability in the same Linux Linux advisory bundle as CVE-2026-23401. The same patched build closes every CVE in the bundle, so the remediation procedure for CVE-2026-31406 matches the primary write-up.

What is different about CVE-2026-31406?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfrm: Fix work re-schedule after cancel in xfrm_nat_keepalive_net_fini()

After cancel_delayed_work_sync() is called from

xfrm_nat_keepalive_net_fini(), xfrm_state_fini() flushes remaining

states via __xfrm_state_delete(), which calls

xfrm_nat_keepalive_state_updated() to re-schedule nat_keepalive_work. The following is a simple race scenario:

cpu0 cpu1

cleanup_net() [Round 1]

ops_u...

Impact is consistent with the bundle: compromise of the affected component as described in the vendor advisory. The patched build closes every code path in the advisory in one update.

How to fix CVE-2026-31406

Apply the patched build per the primary write-up: How to Fix CVE-2026-23401.

For a quick check, confirm the running version of Linux:

# Confirm the installed version via your package manager
dpkg -l | grep -i linux   # Debian/Ubuntu
rpm -qa | grep -i linux   # RHEL/CentOS/Rocky

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2026-31406 being actively exploited?

Not at the time of writing. It is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. That status can change, so monitor the vendor advisory and the KEV catalog if the system is exposed.

How severe is CVE-2026-31406?

CVSS rates it 7.8 (High). Use that score to set your patch priority alongside the other items in your queue.

Do I have to take Linux offline to apply the patch?

It depends on the deployment. High-availability or clustered installs can usually patch one node at a time with no full outage. Standalone installs typically need a short restart. Always follow the vendor's documented upgrade steps.

What if my vulnerability scanner still flags CVE-2026-31406 after I patch?

Re-run the scan after a service restart, then confirm the scanner's plugin set is up to date. Some scanners detect by banner version only and lag the official fix metadata by a release.

References

• Official vendor advisory: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/32d0f44c2f14d60fe8e920e69a28c11051543ec1
• NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31406
• CISA KEV catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• Primary write-up: How to Fix CVE-2026-23401

*Written by Sai Kiran Pandrala. Last verified 2026-05-25. Part of the Linux Linux advisory bundle. Full procedure at how-to-fix-cve-2026-23401.*