CVE-2024-38531
Nix sandbox escape
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
3.6
Nix sandbox escape
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
- Record
CVE-2024-38531- CVSS 3.1
- 3.6 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-278
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2024-37395
3.6
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
- Record
EUVD-2024-37395- CVSS 3.1
- 3.6 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
3.6
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
- Record
CVE-2024-38531- CVSS 3.1
- 3.6 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-278
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
3.6
Nix sandbox escape
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
- Record
CVE-2024-38531- CVSS 3.1
- 3.6 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-278
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2024-38531
3.6
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2024-38531- CVSS 3.1
- 3.6 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2024-38531
3.6
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2024-38531- CVSS 3.1
- 3.6 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-7633-1 No score
nix vulnerabilities
Linus Heckemann discovered that Nix did not correctly handle certain binaries. An attacker could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2024-38531)
Pierre-Etienne Meunier discovered that Nix did not correctly handle TLS certificates. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to leak sensitive information. (CVE-2024-47174)
It was discovered that Nix did not correctly handle Unix sockets. An attacker could possibly use this issue execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. (CVE-2024-27297)
It was discovered that Nix did not correctly handle unpacking Nix archives (NARS). If a user or automated system were tricked into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2024-45593)
- Record
USN-7633-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
nixDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.16.1+dfsg-12.16.1+dfsg-22.16.1+dfsg-32.17.1+dfsg-12.18.1+dfsg-1 Show 16 moreShow less2.22.1+dfsg-12.23.3+dfsg-12.23.3+dfsg-22.24.12+dfsg-12.24.8+dfsg-12.24.9+dfsg-12.24.9+dfsg-22.25.4+dfsg-12.26.3+dfsg-12.32.5+dfsg-12.32.5+dfsg-22.34.3+dfsg-12.34.6+dfsg-12.34.8+dfsg-12.35.4+dfsg-12.8.0-1.1 |
None known |
nixDebian:13 |
before 2.23.3+dfsg-1 | 2.23.3+dfsg-1 |
nixDebian:14 |
before 2.23.3+dfsg-1 | 2.23.3+dfsg-1 |
nixUbuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS |
before 2.6.0+dfsg-3ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 2.3.10+dfsg1-12.3.10+dfsg1-1build12.6.0+dfsg-22.6.0+dfsg-3 |
2.6.0+dfsg-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
nixUbuntu:Pro:24.04:LTS |
before 2.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu5+esm2, plus listed versions 2.16.1+dfsg-3ubuntu12.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu12.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu22.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu42.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu5 |
2.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu5+esm2 |
nixUbuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 2.6.0+dfsg-3ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 2.3.10+dfsg1-12.3.10+dfsg1-1build12.6.0+dfsg-22.6.0+dfsg-3 |
2.6.0+dfsg-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
nixUbuntu:Pro:24.04:LTS From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 2.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu5+esm2, plus listed versions 2.16.1+dfsg-3ubuntu12.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu12.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu22.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu42.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu5 |
2.18.1+dfsg-1ubuntu5+esm2 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2024-38531 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 3.6) in Nixos Nix, published June 28, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.14%, the 3rd percentile. Fixed in nix 2.23.3+dfsg-1.