Linux Kernel CVE-2026-31417

Upgrade to patched Linux kernel versions: 6.1.168 or later for 6.1.x series, 6.6.134+ for 6.6.x, 6.12.81+ for 6.12.x, 6.18.22+ for 6.18.x, 6.19.12+ for 6.19.x, or 7.0+ for mainline. Patches available at https://git.kernel.org/stable/ under commits 798d613afb64, 96fc16370b0b, and related stable branch commits. If immediate patching is not feasible, disable X.25 protocol support as a compensating control: unload the x25 kernel module with 'rmmod x25' and blacklist it in /etc/modprobe.d/ to prevent automatic loading. This eliminates the attack surface but breaks any applications or network equipment relying on X.25 connectivity. For systems requiring X.25 functionality, restrict network access to X.25 interfaces using iptables/nftables rules, permitting only trusted source IPs - this reduces attack surface but does not eliminate risk from compromised trusted hosts. Verify X.25 is not loaded with 'lsmod | grep x25' and check for listening X.25 sockets with 'netstat -ax'. Organizations using X.25 for industrial control or legacy WAN should prioritize patching over workarounds due to difficulty isolating these systems.