util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. Prior to version 2.41.4, a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use) vulnerability has been identified in the SUID binary /usr/bin/mount from util-linux. The mount binary, when setting up loop devices, validates the source file path with user privileges via fork() + setuid() + realpath(), but subsequently re-canonicalizes and opens it with root privileges (euid=0) without verifying that the path has not been replaced between both operations. Neither O_NOFOLLOW, nor inode comparison, nor post-open fstat() are employed. This allows a local unprivileged user to replace the source file with a symlink pointing to any root-owned file or device during the race window, causing the SUID binary to open and mount it as root. Exploitation requires an /etc/fstab entry with user,loop options whose path points to a directory where the attacker has write permission, and that /usr/bin/mount has the SUID bit set (the default configuration on virtually all Linux distributions). The impact is unauthorized read access to root-protected files and block devices, including backup images, disk volumes, and any file containing a valid filesystem. This issue has been patched in version 2.41.4.
Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux util-linux
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux util-linux
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. Prior to version 2.41.4, a TOCTOU (Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use) vulnerability has been identified in the SUID binary /usr/bin/mount from util-linux. The mount binary, when setting up loop devices, validates the source file path with user privileges via fork() + setuid() + realpath(), but subsequently re-canonicalizes and opens it with root privileges (euid=0) without verifying that the path has not been replaced between both operations. Neither O_NOFOLLOW, nor inode comparison, nor post-open fstat() are employed. This allows a local unprivileged user to replace the source file with a symlink pointing to any root-owned file or device during the race window, causing the SUID binary to open and mount it as root. Exploitation requires an /etc/fstab entry with user,loop options whose path points to a directory where the attacker has write permission, and that /usr/bin/mount has the SUID bit set (the default configuration on virtually all Linux distributions). The impact is unauthorized read access to root-protected files and block devices, including backup images, disk volumes, and any file containing a valid filesystem. This issue has been patched in version 2.41.4.
Title util-linux: TOCTOU Race Condition in util-linux mount(8) - Loop Device Setup
Weaknesses CWE-269
CWE-367
CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-06T15:42:35.774Z

Reserved: 2026-02-19T17:25:31.100Z

Link: CVE-2026-27456

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-06T15:38:52.451Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-04-03T22:16:25.400

Modified: 2026-04-07T13:20:55.200

Link: CVE-2026-27456

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-04-03T21:23:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-27456 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-06T22:22:05Z

Weaknesses