IM
IronMonkey Threat Research

CVE-2026-31521 MEDIUM

Published: 2026-04-22 | Last Modified: 2026-07-14 | Status: Modified

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: module: Fix kernel panic when a symbol st_shndx is out of bounds The module loader doesn't check for bounds of the ELF section index in simplify_symbols(): for (i = 1; i < symsec->sh_size / sizeof(Elf_Sym); i++) { const char *name = info->strtab + sym[i].st_name; switch (sym[i].st_shndx) { case SHN_COMMON: [...] default: /* Divert to percpu allocation if a percpu var. */ if (sym[i].st_shndx == info->index.pcpu) secbase = (unsigned long)mod_percpu(mod); else /** HERE --> **/ secbase = info->sechdrs[sym[i].st_shndx].sh_addr; sym[i].st_value += secbase; break; } } A symbol with an out-of-bounds st_shndx value, for example 0xffff (known as SHN_XINDEX or SHN_HIRESERVE), may cause a kernel panic: BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ... RIP: 0010:simplify_symbols+0x2b2/0x480 ... Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception This can happen when module ELF is legitimately using SHN_XINDEX or when it is corrupted. Add a bounds check in simplify_symbols() to validate that st_shndx is within the valid range before using it. This issue was discovered due to a bug in llvm-objcopy, see relevant discussion for details [1]. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/linux-modules/[email protected]/

CVSS Metrics

Base Score: 5.5 (MEDIUM)

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

Attack VectorLOCAL
Attack ComplexityLOW
Privileges RequiredLOW
User InteractionNONE
ScopeUNCHANGED
Confidentiality ImpactNONE
Integrity ImpactNONE
Availability ImpactHIGH

Source: [email protected]

Type: Primary

Exploitability Score: 1.8

Impact Score: 3.6

Weaknesses

Source Type Description
[email protected] Primary
en CWE-787

Affected Products

Vendor Product Version Update Type
linux linux_kernel * <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdd6ad200> Operating System
linux linux_kernel * <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdd6afc00> Operating System
linux linux_kernel * <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdd494d00> Operating System
linux linux_kernel * <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdd6aee80> Operating System
linux linux_kernel * <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdcdbe400> Operating System
linux linux_kernel * <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdcdbf3c0> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 2.6.12 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bcbd3aa80> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 2.6.12 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702b829a4500> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 2.6.12 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702ba6a9c740> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 2.6.12 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702bdcdbc080> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 2.6.12 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702b501676c0> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 7.0 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702b50167d00> Operating System
linux linux_kernel 7.0 <built-in method update of dict object at 0x702b50174240> Operating System

Affected Configurations

Operator: OR

Vulnerable CPE
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Yes cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*

References

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