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Response snapshot Nov 6, 2026, 17:11 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-31787

Linux kernel: xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting privcmd_vm_ops defines .close (privcmd_close), but neither .may_split nor .open.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.8 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2026-31787 (opens a new tab)

What happened

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting

privcmd_vm_ops defines .close (privcmd_close), but neither .may_split nor .open. When userspace does a partial munmap() on a privcmd mapping, the kernel splits the VMA via __split_vma(). Since may_split is NULL, the split is allowed. vm_area_dup() copies vm_private_data (a pages array allocated in alloc_empty_pages()) into the new VMA without any fixup, because there is no .open callback.

Both VMAs now point to the same pages array. When the unmapped portion is closed, privcmd_close() calls: - xen_unmap_domain_gfn_range() - xen_free_unpopulated_pages() - kvfree(pages)

Continue reading

The surviving VMA still holds the dangling pointer. When it is later destroyed, the same sequence runs again, which leads to a double free.

Fix this issue by adding a .may_split callback denying the VMA split.

This is XSA-487 / CVE-2026-31787

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.8

Version 3.1As of

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

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2026-31787 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, November 6). Linux kernel: xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting (CVE-2026-31787). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-31787

MLA

"Linux kernel: xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting (CVE-2026-31787)." KEVWire, 6 Nov. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-31787.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Linux kernel: xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting (CVE-2026-31787)." Last modified November 6, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-31787.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Linux kernel: xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting (Apr 30, 2026).
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xen/privcmd: fix double free via VMA splitting

privcmd_vm_ops defines .close (privcmd_close), but neither .may_split
nor .open. When userspace does a partial munmap() on a privcmd mapping,
the kernel splits the VMA via __split_vma(). Since may_split is NULL,
the split is allowed. vm_area_dup() copies vm_private_data (a pages
array allocated in alloc_empty_pages()) into the new VMA without any
fixup, because there is no .open callback.

Both VMAs now point to the same pages array.
CVSS 7.8 (version 3.1; evidence as of Nov 6, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31787).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2026-31787: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31787
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-06T15:21:05.474Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-06T16:50:56.468Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-06T14:41:02.636Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-06T16:20:56.228Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
Record ID: CVE-2026-31787.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Nov 6, 2026, 16:50 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Analyzed. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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