Linux Kernel Resource Mishandling That Allows Privilege Escalation Carries a Lapsed May 15th CISA KEV Mandate; Covered Entities on Unpatched Kernels Remain Out of Compliance

Last refreshed2026-09-27

Status: KEV | Advisory ID: CVE-2026-31431

Key Details

CVE	CVE-2026-31431
Vulnerability Name	Linux Kernel Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres Vulnerability
Affected products	Linux Kernel
Exploitation status	Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating confirmed active exploitation.
Classified as	CWE-669 (Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres)
KEV listing	Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2026-05-01.
Exploitation prediction (EPSS)	3.44% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (89% percentile) -- FIRST.org's EPSS model.
Federal remediation deadline	2026-05-15 (CISA KEV, Binding Operational Directive).

Affected Products, Subsystems & Sectors

Vendor	Product	Affected Versions	Patch Status
Linux	Kernel

Vendor

Product

Affected Versions

Patch Status

Linux

Kernel

Subsystems	Core Infrastructure
Sectors	All Sectors

What to Know

Linux Kernel contains an incorrect resource transfer between spheres vulnerability that could allow for privilege escalation.

What to Do

Monitor Linux's web page for any future patch releases.

References

Source	Reference
NVD	https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31431
CVE	https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31431

Source

Reference

NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31431

CVE

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31431

KEV Required Action

Field	Value
KEV Link	https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
Date Added to KEV	2026-05-01
Required Action Due Date	2026-05-15
Required Action	"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Field

Value

KEV Link

https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog

Date Added to KEV

2026-05-01

Required Action Due Date

2026-05-15

Required Action

"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.