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Security Advisory: CVE-2026-31431 Linux Kernel Local Privilege Escalation

Security Advisory: CVE-2026-31431 Linux Kernel Local Privilege Escalation

Overview

DataCore has identified the impact of CVE-2026-31431, a Linux kernel vulnerability that allows a local user to gain root-level privileges without authentication on affected systems. This vulnerability impacts specific Linux kernel versions and may expose systems where local user access is possible. Immediate action is recommended for affected environments.

This advisory provides:

  • Affected DataCore components

  • Impact assessment

  • Remediation steps by operating system

This KB article describes the impact of CVE-2026-31431 on DataCore environments and explains the necessary actions you must take to remediate affected systems.

Vulnerability Details

  • CVE ID: CVE-2026-31431

  • CVSS Score: 7.8 (High)

  • Type: Local Privilege Escalation

  • Impact: Unauthorized root access without authentication

  • Attack Vector: Requires local system access

This vulnerability is rated critical because it enables privilege escalation to root without requiring authentication.

Impact Assessment

Affected and Non-Affected Components

Component

Impact

Action

Component

Impact

Action

Swarm Storage Nodes

Not affected (no user login interface)

No action required

DataCore FileFly

Not affected (Windows-based)

No action required

Swarm Cluster Services (SCS), Content Gateway, Elasticsearch, Telemetry

Affected (runs on Linux-based virtual machines)

Patch required (Apply kernel updates)

DataCore Swarm Appliance and Single Node Swarm (SNS) / Ubuntu 22.04 VM Template

Not affected (includes patched kernel)

No action required if using latest version

Product Impact Summary

  • Swarm Storage Nodes are not impacted, as they do not provide a user login interface.

  • Linux-based components (SCS, Gateway, Elasticsearch, Telemetry) are affected and require patching.

  • Most existing DataCore VM templates may be affected, except:

    • The latest DataCore Swarm Appliance and SNS / Ubuntu 22.04 template, which includes a patched kernel (5.15.0-177-generic).

Important

DataCore strongly recommends using the latest available VM templates when deploying new environments.

Patch Status and Remediation

Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy)

  • Status: Patched

  • Affected Kernel: 5.15.0-173 and earlier

  • Fixed Kernel: 5.15.0-176 and later

Action: Update and reboot

# Update package index sudo apt-get update # Upgrade system packages (including kernel) sudo apt-get dist-upgrade # Reboot to apply the updated kernel sudo reboot

Debian

  • Status: Patched

Action: Update and reboot

# Update package index sudo apt-get update # Upgrade system packages (including kernel) sudo apt-get dist-upgrade # Reboot to apply the updated kernel sudo reboot

RHEL 8 / RHEL 9

  • Status: Patch not yet available (as of May 4, 2026)

Action:

  • Monitor official Red Hat security advisories

  • Apply kernel updates immediately once patches are released

Rocky Linux 8 / 9

  • Status: Patched

Action: Update and reboot

# Update system packages (including kernel) sudo dnf update -y # Reboot to apply the updated kernel sudo reboot

Post-update Verification

After reboot, verify that the system is running one of the following kernel versions (or later):

  • Rocky Linux 8: 4.18.0-553.123.1.el8_10.x86_64

  • Rocky Linux 9: 5.14.0-611.54.1.el9_7.x86_64

# Display the currently running kernel version uname -r

CentOS 7

  • Status: Not vulnerable based on currently shipped kernel versions

  • Action: None required

Recommended Actions

  1. Identify affected systems

    • Focus on Linux-based components:

      • SCS

      • Gateway

      • Elasticsearch

      • Telemetry

  2. Apply operating system updates immediately

    • Use your distribution’s package manager (e.g., apt-get dist-upgrade)

  3. Reboot systems after patching

    • Kernel updates require a reboot to take effect

  4. Track vendor advisories (RHEL users)

    • Apply updates immediately for Rocky Linux systems and monitor advisories for RHEL systems

Notes

  • Temporary mitigations may be used where necessary, however, they are not a substitute for applying official kernel patches.

  • Any temporary measures should be removed after the system has been updated.

  • Systems using the latest DataCore Swarm Appliance and SNS / Ubuntu 22.04 template are already protected.

Verification

After applying updates, verify the running kernel version:

# Display the currently running kernel version uname -r

Ensure the system is running a patched kernel version (for example, 5.15.0-176 or later on Ubuntu 22.04).

See Also