--- title: "CVE-2026-53613: util-linux - Privilege Escalation" description: "util-linux 2.17 through 2.41.6, 2.42 through 2.42.3, and 2.42.4 with legacy mount path without /proc contains a privilege escalation caused by improper validation of /etc/fstab targets allowing local low-privileged users to redirect mounts to root-owned locations, letting attackers gain root privileges, exploit requires fstab user or users entry with attacker-writable ancestor." url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-53613/ --- # CVE-2026-53613 util-linux - Privilege Escalation util-linux 2.17 through 2.41.6, 2.42 through 2.42.3, and 2.42.4 with legacy mount path without /proc contains a privilege escalation caused by improper validation of /etc/fstab targets allowing local low-privileged users to redirect mounts to root-owned locations, letting attackers gain root privileges, exploit requires fstab user or users entry with attacker-writable ancestor. CVSS base score 7.0 /10 High CISA KEV Not listed Public exploit Proof of concept available Authentication Required [View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53613) ## 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 Upgrade to versions 2.41.5, 2.42.2 or later where mount targets are properly pinned. 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-2026-53613](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53613) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/85d16b341f7232c9dbb4884b632e1e956584bee9](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/85d16b341f7232c9dbb4884b632e1e956584bee9) - [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/commit/0b010025a0e429bc80355c94db86a843395d49e2](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/0b010025a0e429bc80355c94db86a843395d49e2) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/39fef62bf3226abb6bb018fa8750afa0327e84b4](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/39fef62bf3226abb6bb018fa8750afa0327e84b4) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/708d1b3c51932dc5ba8082c7368187715e6a8d78](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/708d1b3c51932dc5ba8082c7368187715e6a8d78) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/a9508d216eb8977979102782672e0470cc9bf2a2](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/a9508d216eb8977979102782672e0470cc9bf2a2) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.42.4](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.42.4) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-8gj5-72r3-428g](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-8gj5-72r3-428g) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/0d3d55975aa3492c62fd345eac38f41cd166c0b0](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/0d3d55975aa3492c62fd345eac38f41cd166c0b0) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/2c773f336134acf016e639abb6f12ba7341fe4b8](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/2c773f336134acf016e639abb6f12ba7341fe4b8) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/472cc3fb2d4d47cca7aab2e0b59eb3fb8a9359ec](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/472cc3fb2d4d47cca7aab2e0b59eb3fb8a9359ec) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/646fb66603d10a7ac337e14f566f1af48e3107c9](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/646fb66603d10a7ac337e14f566f1af48e3107c9) - [https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/78a860982e036f38fe9c0b3344998df5ac2c2ff5](https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/78a860982e036f38fe9c0b3344998df5ac2c2ff5) [← 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)