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7.0 High

CVE-2026-78409 Util-linux: util-linux: x-mount.subdir detached-tree resolution can escape via intermediate symlinks

Description

The X-mount.subdir option uses a detached-tree fast path on Linux 6.15 and later and passes the configured subdirectory to open_tree() with AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW. That flag does not stop intermediate symlink traversal or keep resolution inside the newly mounted filesystem. A local unprivileged user with an fstab-authorized X-mount.subdir entry can attach a host path at the intended mountpoint.

CVSS 3.1 detail

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

Exploitable with local access to the machine, with an ordinary account and without any user action; an attacker can seriously compromise confidentiality, integrity or availability.

Attack vector
Local
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
Low
Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Affected products and versions

Product Affected versions Fixed in
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Versions not published
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Versions not published
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Versions not published
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Versions not published
Red Hat Hardened Images 2.42 earliest → < 2.42.2-3.4.hum1 2.42.2-3.4.hum1
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 Versions not published
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 Versions not published
The 1455 CVEs of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 →
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