Vulnerability · CVE-2026-31437
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfs: Fix NULL pointer dereference in netfs_unbuffered_write() on retry When a write subrequest is…
Published Apr 22, 2026 · catalog updated Jun 17, 2026 · linux kernel
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-31437. EPSS is 0.16%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Gaps on this record
- No version range is stored. A customer cannot check an installed version against this record.
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
- Severity
- Medium5.5
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.16%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- cpe linux/linux kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfs: Fix NULL pointer dereference in netfs_unbuffered_write() on retry When a write subrequest is marked NETFS_SREQ_NEED_RETRY, the retry path in netfs_unbuffered_write() unconditionally calls stream->prepare_write() without checking if it is NULL. Filesystems such as 9P do not set the prepare_write operation, so stream->prepare_write remains NULL. When get_user_pages() fails with -EFAULT and the subrequest is flagged for retry, this results in a NULL pointer dereference at fs/netfs/direct_write.c:189. Fix this by mirroring the pattern already used in write_retry.c: if stream->prepare_write is NULL, skip renegotiation and directly reissue the subrequest via netfs_reissue_write(), which handles iterator reset, IN_PROGRESS flag, stats update and reissue internally.
Are you affected?
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- cpe linux/linux kernelversion unspecified
How to fix CVE-2026-31437
Recommended remediation
A patch or advisory reference is linked. Open the original publisher for availability by product version.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-31437. EPSS is 0.16%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Affected version ranges are not on this record. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference. EPSS 0.16%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Apr 22, 2026 · NIST NVD
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfs: Fix NULL pointer dereference in netfs_unbuffered_write() on retry When a write subrequest is marked NETFS_SREQ_NEED_RETRY, the retry path in netfs_unbuffered_write() unconditionally calls stream->prepare_write() without checking if it is NULL. Filesystems such as 9P do not set the prepare_write operation, so stream->prepare
Jun 17, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfs: Fix NULL pointer dereference in netfs_unbuffered_write() on retry When a write subrequest is marked NETFS_SREQ_NEED_RETRY, the retry path in netfs_unbuffered_write() unconditionally calls stream->prepare_write() without checking if it is NULL. Filesystems such as 9P do not set the prepare_write operation, so stream->prepare
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-31437
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-31437
30-day exploitation probability 0.2%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-31437
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfs: Fix NULL pointer dereference in netfs_unbuffered_write() on retry When a write subrequest is marked NETFS_SREQ_NEED_RETRY, the retry path in netfs_unbuffered_write() unconditionally calls stream->prepare
nvd.nist.gov
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.