CVE-2026-31583

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's em28xx media driver. This vulnerability, a type of memory corruption, arises from a race condition where the driver attempts to use memory that has already been freed or access a null pointer. This can be triggered when the em28xx_v4l2_open() function is called without proper synchronization. Successful exploitation could lead to system instability or a denial of service, making the system unresponsive.

The em28xx V4L2 open path raced disconnect; upstream fixes UAF during device teardown. Red Hat recommends kernel errata for systems with em28xx-based USB tuners. Unload em28xx if the hardware is not required.

The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.

To mitigate this issue, prevent the em28xx module from being loaded. See https://access.redhat.com/solutions/41278 for instructions.