--- title: "CVE-2026-53612: util-linux - Privilege Escalation" description: "util-linux 2.39 through 2.41.4 and 2.42 through 2.42.1 contain a privilege escalation caused by a race condition in the SUID mount utility's hook_owner.c post-mount hook performing path-based chmod() and lchown() operations, letting local low-privileged users with specific /etc/fstab authorization gain root privileges, exploit requires user or users fstab entry with X-mount options." url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-53612/ --- # CVE-2026-53612 util-linux - Privilege Escalation util-linux 2.39 through 2.41.4 and 2.42 through 2.42.1 contain a privilege escalation caused by a race condition in the SUID mount utility's hook\_owner.c post-mount hook performing path-based chmod() and lchown() operations, letting local low-privileged users with specific /etc/fstab authorization gain root privileges, exploit requires user or users fstab entry with X-mount options. CVSS base score 7.0 /10 High CISA KEV Not listed Public exploit None known Authentication Required [View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53612) ## Details Type Privilege Escalation Impact Privilege Escalation CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Published 14 October 2026 Updated 15 October 2026 Weakness [CWE-367](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/367.html) ## Vendor fix Update to versions 2.41.5 or 2.42.2 or later. Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them. ## References - [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53612](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53612) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/d0c5adaeb3a3d823aba1377794de8f009b8152cc](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/d0c5adaeb3a3d823aba1377794de8f009b8152cc) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.41.5](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.41.5) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.42.2](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.42.2) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/24da33905c7115c4cbccd0afb2a469804e96467a](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/24da33905c7115c4cbccd0afb2a469804e96467a) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/722c96974dd4009a334e4aee556eedaab5fb94b4](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/722c96974dd4009a334e4aee556eedaab5fb94b4) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/897a08c2b11dfa66975c3d24d63c7bf5f5be1a7c](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/897a08c2b11dfa66975c3d24d63c7bf5f5be1a7c) [← All CVEs](https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/) ## What this record can't tell you - Whether you run the affected software, and where - Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it - The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number - What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding. [Book a demo](https://panop.io/demo)