chmod: recursive mode returns exit code 0 even when some files fail (last-file-wins)

In `Chmoder::chmod()` the recursive branch overwrites the running result instead of accumulating it, so the exit code reflects only the *last* file processed: ``` if self.recursive { r = self.walk_dir_with_context(file, true); // overwrites r } else { r = self.chmod_file(file).and(r); } ``` **PoC:** GNU returns 1 when a file fails; uutils returns 0 if the last entry succeeds: ``` $ chmod -R 0755 chmod-bug/root chmod-bug/user # GNU -> ret=1 $ uutils chmod -R 0755 chmod-bug/root chmod-bug/user # -> ret=0 ``` **Impact:** scripts relying on the exit code get a false success signal while some files retained restrictive/unexpected permissions, leading to access-control misconfigurations. Recommendation: accumulate errors during traversal. **Remediation:** Acknowledged by Canonical; fixed in commit abd581f6. --- _Reported by Zellic in the *uutils coreutils Program Security Assessment* (prepared for Canonical, Jan 20 2026), audited commit `3a07ffc5a9bd4c283e75afa548ba1f1957bad242`. Finding 3.2. Credit: Zellic._

Source published

6 Jul 2026 19:27:41 UTC

Source modified

6 Jul 2026 19:41:24 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:19:54 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Publisher rating · MODERATE