High severity · published Oct 14, 2026
CVE-2026-53612
util-linux mount hook_owner TOCTOU allows local privilege escalation
7.0
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. In util-linux 2.39 through 2.41.4 and 2.42 through 2.42.1, the SUID `mount` utility's `hook_owner.c` post-mount hook performs path-based `chmod()` and `lchown()` operations on a previously validated mount target. A local low-privileged user authorized by an `/etc/fstab` entry with `user` or `users` and an `X-mount.mode`, `X-mount.owner`, or `X-mount.group` option can use `renameat2(RENAME_EXCHANGE)` to race a writable ancestor of the target and redirect the privileged ownership or mode change to a root-owned path, potentially gaining root privileges. This issue is fixed in 2.41.5 and 2.42.2.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 4% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
UT
util-linux · util-linux
>= 2.39, < 2.41.5; >= 2.42, < 2.42.2 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53612
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53612
x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/24da33905c7115c4cbccd0afb2a469804e96467a
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/722c96974dd4009a334e4aee556eedaab5fb94b4
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/897a08c2b11dfa66975c3d24d63c7bf5f5be1a7c
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/d0c5adaeb3a3d823aba1377794de8f009b8152cc
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.41.5
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