CVE-2026-109518
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
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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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 High
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
aptDebian:12 |
before 2.6.2, plus listed versions 2.6.1 |
2.6.2 |
aptDebian:13 |
before 3.0.4, plus listed versions 3.0.3 |
3.0.4 |
aptDebian:14 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.0.33.0.43.1.03.1.13.1.10 Show 22 moreShow less3.1.113.1.123.1.133.1.143.1.153.1.163.1.23.1.33.1.43.1.53.1.63.1.73.1.83.1.93.2.03.3.03.3.13.3.23.3.33.3.43.3.53.3.6 |
None known |
aptUbuntu: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 less0.9.13~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 |
aptUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.0.10.2ubuntu11.1.41.1.51.1.101.2.3 Show 25 moreShow less1.2.41.2.61.2.71.2.81.2.91.2.101.2.10ubuntu11.2.12~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 |
aptUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.51.5.11.6~alpha51.6~alpha7ubuntu11.6~alpha7ubuntu2 Show 20 moreShow less1.6~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 |
aptUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.9.41.9.51.9.71.9.81.9.9 Show 15 moreShow less1.9.102.0.02.0.12.0.1ubuntu12.0.22.0.2ubuntu0.12.0.2ubuntu0.22.0.42.0.52.0.62.0.82.0.92.0.102.0.112.0.12+esm1 |
None known |
aptUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.92.3.112.3.122.3.132.3.14 Show 15 moreShow less2.3.152.3.15build12.4.12.4.32.4.52.4.62.4.72.4.82.4.92.4.102.4.112.4.122.4.132.4.142.4.15ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
aptUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.7.32.7.62.7.102.7.112.7.12 Show 4 moreShow less2.7.142.7.14build22.8.32.8.4ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
aptUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.03.3.23.3.33.3.3ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
aptUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.6ubuntu23.1.8ubuntu13.1.113.1.123.1.13 Show 5 moreShow less3.1.143.1.153.1.163.2.03.2.1ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | NeoArtemis37/PHP2shell | 2026-10-23 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | OSV | |
| references | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD | |
| affected, aliases, published, references | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV | |
| aliases, references | GitHub Advisories, NVD | |
| references | CVE List | |
| aliases | EUVD | |
| cwes, description, products, references, severity, title | CVE List | |
| first indexed | OSV, 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
lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/2026/msg00526.html
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8996-1
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/11/msg00004.html
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/11/04/12
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-109518
github.com/advisories/GHSA-jw32-37xr-xwfw
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-109518
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-109518
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-109518