Potential Copy Fail (CVE-2026-31431) Exploitation via AF_ALG Socket
Correlates a burst of non-root AF_ALG-class "socket", "splice", or "bound-socket" telemetry with a subsequent process execution where effective user is root but the login user remains non-root. This sequence matches…
Description
Correlates a burst of non-root AF_ALG-class "socket", "splice", or "bound-socket" telemetry with a subsequent process execution where effective user is root but the login user remains non-root. This sequence matches common post-exploitation chains for Copy Fail (CVE-2026-31431) style abuse where AF_ALG and "splice" primitives precede executing a corrupted setuid binary from cache.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
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Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSOffice SuiteWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate AF_ALG usage from unprivileged users is uncommon, but some kernel crypto tests, IPsec helpers, disk encryption tooling, HSM integrations, or approved security research systems may exercise this interface. Verify the process, user, and host role before adding an exception.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=a664bf3d603d | Only this detection cites it |
| nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31431 | Only this detection cites it |
| www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/crypto/userspace-if.html | Only this detection cites it |
| xint.io/blog/copy-fail-linux-distributions | 4from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 1c28becc-ec0b-4e6d-81a5-899d00348089
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Auditd ManagerDomain: EndpointNoise: UnknownOS: LinuxPerformance: NormalPlatform: LinuxProfile: RecommendedResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)Tactic: Privilege EscalationThreat: Vulnerability ExploitUse Case: Threat DetectionUse Case: VulnerabilityVuln: CVE-2026-31431
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3