util-linux mount target TOCTOU allows local privilege escalation

util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. In util-linux 2.17 through 2.41.6 and 2.42 through 2.42.3, and in 2.42.4 when the legacy `mount(2)` path is used without `/proc`, restricted non-root `mount` requests validate an `/etc/fstab` target before the mount operation re-resolves that pathname. A local low-privileged user authorized by an fstab `user` or `users` entry whose target has an attacker-writable ancestor can use `renameat2(RENAME_EXCHANGE)` to swap a path component and redirect an authorized mount to a root-owned location, such as mounting attacker-controlled content over `/etc/sudoers.d`, and thereby gain root privileges. Versions 2.41.5 and 2.42.2 pin targets for the new mount API, and 2.42.4 pins legacy targets through `/proc/self/fd`; the documented legacy fallback without `/proc` remains affected.

Source published

14 Oct 2026 14:52:56 UTC

Source modified

15 Oct 2026 15:08:26 UTC

Observed here

23 Oct 2026 15:48:27 UTC

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CVSS 3.1 · 7.0 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H