Vulnerability · CVE-2026-31518
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: esp: fix skb leak with espintcp and async crypto When the TX queue for espintcp is full, esp_output…
Published Apr 22, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 15, 2026 · linux kernel
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-31518. EPSS is 0.17%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Gaps on 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
- 0.17%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- cpe linux/linux kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: esp: fix skb leak with espintcp and async crypto When the TX queue for espintcp is full, esp_output_tail_tcp will return an error and not free the skb, because with synchronous crypto, the common xfrm output code will drop the packet for us. With async crypto (esp_output_done), we need to drop the skb when esp_output_tail_tcp returns an error.
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- cpe linux/linux kernel7.0
How to fix CVE-2026-31518
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-2026-31518. EPSS is 0.17%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with linux/linux kernel 7.0. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
CWE-401: Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime. EPSS 0.17%. 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: esp: fix skb leak with espintcp and async crypto When the TX queue for espintcp is full, esp_output_tail_tcp will return an error and not free the skb, because with synchronous crypto, the common xfrm output code will drop the packet for us. With async crypto (esp_output_done), we need to drop the skb when esp_output_tail_tcp retu
Oct 15, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: esp: fix skb leak with espintcp and async crypto When the TX queue for espintcp is full, esp_output_tail_tcp will return an error and not free the skb, because with synchronous crypto, the common xfrm output code will drop the packet for us. With async crypto (esp_output_done), we need to drop the skb when esp_output_tail_tcp retu
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-31518
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-31518
30-day exploitation probability 0.2%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-31518
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: esp: fix skb leak with espintcp and async crypto When the TX queue for espintcp is full, esp_output_tail_tcp will return an error and not free the skb, because with synchronous crypto, the common xfrm output co
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.