Vulnerability · CVE-2026-31788
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary h…
Published Mar 25, 2026 · catalog updated Jun 17, 2026 · linux kernel
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-31788. EPSS is 0.20%. 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
- High8.2
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.20%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- cpe linux/linux kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary hypercalls from user space processes. This is normally no problem, as access is usually limited to root and the hypervisor will deny any hypercalls affecting other domains. In case the guest is booted using secure boot, however, the privcmd driver would be enabling a root user process to modify e.g. kernel memory contents, thus breaking the secure boot feature. The only known case where an unprivileged domU is really needing to use the privcmd driver is the case when it is acting as the device model for another guest. In this case all hypercalls issued via the privcmd driver will target that other guest. Fortunately the privcmd driver can already be locked down to allow only hypercalls targeting a specific domain, but this mode can be activated from user land only today. The target domain can be obtained from Xenstore, so when not running in dom0 restrict the privcmd driver to that target domain from the beginning, resolving the potential problem of breaking secure boot. This is XSA-482 --- V2: - defer reading from Xenstore if Xenstore isn't ready yet (Jan Beulich) - wait in open() if target domain isn't known yet - issue message in case no target domain found (Jan Beulich)
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 kernel2.6.37
How to fix CVE-2026-31788
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-2026-31788. EPSS is 0.20%. Act only if a listed version of linux kernel is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with linux/linux kernel 2.6.37. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
No weakness class is stored. EPSS 0.20%. 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.
Mar 25, 2026 · NIST NVD
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary hypercalls from user space processes. This is normally no problem, as access is usually limited to root and the hypervisor will deny any hypercalls affecting other domains. In case the guest is booted using secure boot, however, the p
Jun 17, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary hypercalls from user space processes. This is normally no problem, as access is usually limited to root and the hypervisor will deny any hypercalls affecting other domains. In case the guest is booted using secure boot, however, the p
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-31788
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-31788
30-day exploitation probability 0.2%
first.org - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-31788
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary hypercalls from user space processes. This is normally no problem, as access is usually limited to root and the
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.