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CVE-2026-109518

APT RCE via hard link reuse

7.7 HighPublic exploitFix available

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges.

The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Passive

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.7

APT RCE via hard link reuse

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges.

The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration

Record
CVE-2026-109518
CVSS 4.0
7.7 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Weakness
CWE-62, CWE-367
Updated
2026-11-05
EUVDEUVD-2026-116969 7.7

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges.

The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration

Record
EUVD-2026-116969
CVSS 4.0
7.7 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Updated
2026-11-05
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jw32-37xr-xwfw 7.7

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the...

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges.

The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration

Record
GHSA-jw32-37xr-xwfw
CVSS 4.0
7.7 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Weakness
CWE-62
Updated
2026-11-05
NVD 7.7

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges.

The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration

Record
CVE-2026-109518
CVSS 4.0
7.7 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Weakness
CWE-62, CWE-367
Updated
2026-11-05
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-109518 7.7

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges. The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-109518
CVSS 4.0
7.7 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Updated
2026-11-05
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-109518 7.7

On Debian, Ubuntu, and derivative Linux distributions, an on-path attacker who can manipulate the HTTP traffic (including a malicious mirror or proxy) between an APT client and an archive server triggered by a package install can trick the client into installing an attacker-controlled unverified package and achieve remote code execution with root privileges. The vulnerability is caused by the reuse of hard links and requires the client to follow redirects and retry the download of package files. It requires the client to have a non-zero Acquire::Retries configuration setting; the value 3 is the default starting with Debian 12 (bookworm) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish), so older releases are unaffected in a default configuration.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-109518
CVSS 4.0
7.7 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Updated
2026-11-05

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
apt
Debian:12
before 2.6.2, plus listed versions
2.6.1
2.6.2
apt
Debian:13
before 3.0.4, plus listed versions
3.0.3
3.0.4
apt
Debian:14
All versions, plus listed versions
3.0.33.0.43.1.03.1.13.1.10
Show 22 moreShow less
3.1.113.1.123.1.133.1.143.1.153.1.163.1.23.1.33.1.43.1.53.1.63.1.73.1.83.1.93.2.03.3.03.3.13.3.23.3.33.3.43.3.53.3.6
None known
apt
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
0.9.9.1~ubuntu30.9.9.1~ubuntu40.9.9.1~ubuntu50.9.13~exp1ubuntu10.9.13~exp1ubuntu2
Show 35 moreShow less
0.9.13~exp1ubuntu30.9.13.1~ubuntu10.9.14.1ubuntu10.9.14.1ubuntu20.9.15.1ubuntu10.9.15.4ubuntu10.9.15.4ubuntu20.9.15.4ubuntu30.9.15.4ubuntu40.9.15.4ubuntu51.0.1ubuntu21.0.1ubuntu2.11.0.1ubuntu2.31.0.1ubuntu2.4.11.0.1ubuntu2.51.0.1ubuntu2.61.0.1ubuntu2.71.0.1ubuntu2.81.0.1ubuntu2.91.0.1ubuntu2.101.0.1ubuntu2.111.0.1ubuntu2.121.0.1ubuntu2.131.0.1ubuntu2.141.0.1ubuntu2.151.0.1ubuntu2.171.0.1ubuntu2.181.0.1ubuntu2.191.0.1ubuntu2.201.0.1ubuntu2.221.0.1ubuntu2.231.0.1ubuntu2.241.0.1ubuntu2.24+esm11.0.1ubuntu2.24+esm31.0.1ubuntu2.24+esm4
None known
apt
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.0.10.2ubuntu11.1.41.1.51.1.101.2.3
Show 25 moreShow less
1.2.41.2.61.2.71.2.81.2.91.2.101.2.10ubuntu11.2.12~ubuntu16.04.11.2.151.2.15ubuntu0.21.2.181.2.191.2.201.2.241.2.251.2.261.2.271.2.291.2.29ubuntu0.11.2.311.2.321.2.32ubuntu0.11.2.32ubuntu0.21.2.351.2.36+esm1
None known
apt
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.51.5.11.6~alpha51.6~alpha7ubuntu11.6~alpha7ubuntu2
Show 20 moreShow less
1.6~beta11.6~rc11.61.6.11.6.21.6.31.6.3ubuntu0.11.6.61.6.6ubuntu0.11.6.81.6.101.6.111.6.121.6.12ubuntu0.11.6.12ubuntu0.21.6.131.6.141.6.171.6.18~esm11.6.19+esm1
None known
apt
Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1.9.41.9.51.9.71.9.81.9.9
Show 15 moreShow less
1.9.102.0.02.0.12.0.1ubuntu12.0.22.0.2ubuntu0.12.0.2ubuntu0.22.0.42.0.52.0.62.0.82.0.92.0.102.0.112.0.12+esm1
None known
apt
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
2.3.92.3.112.3.122.3.132.3.14
Show 15 moreShow less
2.3.152.3.15build12.4.12.4.32.4.52.4.62.4.72.4.82.4.92.4.102.4.112.4.122.4.132.4.142.4.15ubuntu0.1
None known
apt
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
2.7.32.7.62.7.102.7.112.7.12
Show 4 moreShow less
2.7.142.7.14build22.8.32.8.4ubuntu0.1
None known
apt
Ubuntu:26.10
All versions, plus listed versions
3.2.03.3.23.3.33.3.3ubuntu0.1
None known
apt
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
3.1.6ubuntu23.1.8ubuntu13.1.113.1.123.1.13
Show 5 moreShow less
3.1.143.1.153.1.163.2.03.2.1ubuntu0.1
None known

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubNeoArtemis37/PHP2shell2026-10-23

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affectedOSV
referencesCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD
affected, aliases, published, referencesCVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV
aliases, referencesGitHub Advisories, NVD
referencesCVE List
aliasesEUVD
cwes, description, products, references, severity, titleCVE List
first indexedOSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2026-109518 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.7) in Debian Apt, published November 4, 2026. Public exploit code exists. Fixed in apt 2.6.2.

References

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