CVE-2026-78409Util-linux: util-linux: x-mount.subdir detached-tree resolution can escape via intermediate symlinks
- 7.0HighCVSS base score
- 0.19%Exploitation in 30 daysEPSS · top 91% of all CVEs
- NoKnown exploitednot in CISA's KEV catalog
- YesPublic exploitsa reference or SSVC says so
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.
Public exploit
An exploit or proof of concept is public: anyone can try it against an unpatched system. A reference of the record is tagged as an exploit. CISA's SSVC rates its exploitation: a proof of concept is public.
Show the exploits1
References tagged exploit1 reference
Timeline
ID reserved
By redhat
- 9 days later
· 9 days later
Published
- 2 months later
· 2 months later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| redhatCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | High7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVDNVD · Awaiting Analysis | 3.1 | High7.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 0.19% · top 91% of all CVEs (14 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: poc · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 7.0.
Affected products
Red Hat · Red Hat Hardened Images
- unaffected 2.42.2-3.4.hum1 – < *
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
All versions: unaffected
Red Hat · Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
All versions: unaffected
What to do
Workaround: Upgrade to util-linux v2.41.6, v2.42.3, or later. Until a fix is applied, do not allow unprivileged /etc/fstab entries that specify X-mount.subdir.
References
References4
- RHSA-2026:63162 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-78409 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2522607 (opens in a new tab)issue-trackingx_refsource_REDHAT
- https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-8f2p-47x3-43mv (opens in a new tab)exploit
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- EUVD EUVD-2026-70107 (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2026-78409)Record last updated .