Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2026-28372

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing...

7.4 HighPublic exploitFix available

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.41%Up 0.4 points since Feb 27, 2026
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.4

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
CVE-2026-28372
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-829
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-9000 7.4

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
EUVD-2026-9000
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j682-47rx-fxrp 7.4

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing...

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
GHSA-j682-47rx-fxrp
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-829
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 7.4

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
CVE-2026-28372
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-829
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2026-28372 7.8

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2026-28372
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
OSV 7.4

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
CVE-2026-28372
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-829
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-28372 7.8

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-28372
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-28372 7.4

telnetd in GNU inetutils through 2.7 allows privilege escalation that can be exploited by abusing systemd service credentials support added to the login(1) implementation of util-linux in release 2.40. This is related to client control over the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable, and requires an unprivileged local user to create a login.noauth file.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-28372
CVSS 3.1
7.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-8387-1 No score

inetutils vulnerabilities

It was discovered that the Inetutils telnet daemon incorrectly handled the CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY environment variable. An attacker could possibly use this issue to escalate privileges. (CVE-2026-28372)

It was discovered that the Inetutils telnet daemon did not properly validate buffer bounds when processing LINEMODE SLC suboptions. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2026-32746)

It was discovered that the Inetutils telnet client incorrectly handled the NEW_ENVIRON SEND USERVAR option. An attacker could possibly use this issue to read arbitrary environment variables. (CVE-2026-32772)

Record
USN-8387-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
inetutils-telnet
Alpine:v3.24
 before 2.8-r0
2.8-r0
inetutils
Debian:12
 before 2:2.4-2+deb12u3, plus listed versions
2:2.4-22:2.4-2+deb12u12:2.4-2+deb12u2
2:2.4-2+deb12u3
inetutils
Debian:13
 before 2:2.6-3+deb13u2, plus listed versions
2:2.6-32:2.6-3+deb13u1
2:2.6-3+deb13u2
inetutils
Debian:14
 before 2:2.7-3, plus listed versions
2:2.6-32:2.6-42:2.7-12:2.7-2
2:2.7-3
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
 before 2:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm4, plus listed versions
2:1.9.1.306-0a482-12:1.9.1.363-bbc1-12:1.9.2-12:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm12:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm2
2:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm4
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
 before 2:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm6, plus listed versions
2:1.9.4-12:1.9.4-1build12:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm12:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm22:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm32:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm5
2:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm6
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
 before 2:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm5, plus listed versions
2:1.9.4-2build12:1.9.4-32:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.12:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm12:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm22:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm4
2:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm5
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
 before 2:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm4, plus listed versions
2:1.9.4-10build12:1.9.4-112:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.12:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.1+esm12:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.22:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm12:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm3
2:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm4
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS
 before 2:2.2-2ubuntu0.2+esm1, plus listed versions
2:2.0-12:2.2-22:2.2-2ubuntu0.12:2.2-2ubuntu0.2
2:2.2-2ubuntu0.2+esm1
inetutils
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
 before 2:2.5-3ubuntu4.2, plus listed versions
2:2.4-2ubuntu22:2.4-3ubuntu12:2.5-3ubuntu12:2.5-3ubuntu32:2.5-3ubuntu42:2.5-3ubuntu4.1
2:2.5-3ubuntu4.2
Show 10 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
inetutils
Ubuntu:25.10
 before 2:2.6-1ubuntu3.2, plus listed versions
2:2.5-6ubuntu12:2.6-1ubuntu12:2.6-1ubuntu32:2.6-1ubuntu3.1
2:2.6-1ubuntu3.2
inetutils
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
 before 2:2.7-2ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions
2:2.6-1ubuntu32:2.6-4ubuntu12:2.7-2ubuntu1
2:2.7-2ubuntu1.1
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm4, plus listed versions
2:1.9.1.306-0a482-12:1.9.1.363-bbc1-12:1.9.2-12:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm12:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm2
2:1.9.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm4
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm6, plus listed versions
2:1.9.4-12:1.9.4-1build12:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm12:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm22:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm32:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm5
2:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm6
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm5, plus listed versions
2:1.9.4-2build12:1.9.4-32:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.12:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm12:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm22:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm4
2:1.9.4-3ubuntu0.1+esm5
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm4, plus listed versions
2:1.9.4-10build12:1.9.4-112:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.12:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.1+esm12:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.22:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm12:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm3
2:1.9.4-11ubuntu0.2+esm4
inetutils
Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:2.2-2ubuntu0.2+esm1, plus listed versions
2:2.0-12:2.2-22:2.2-2ubuntu0.12:2.2-2ubuntu0.2
2:2.2-2ubuntu0.2+esm1
inetutils
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:2.5-3ubuntu4.2, plus listed versions
2:2.4-2ubuntu22:2.4-3ubuntu12:2.5-3ubuntu12:2.5-3ubuntu32:2.5-3ubuntu42:2.5-3ubuntu4.1
2:2.5-3ubuntu4.2
inetutils
Ubuntu:25.10
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:2.6-1ubuntu3.2, plus listed versions
2:2.5-6ubuntu12:2.6-1ubuntu12:2.6-1ubuntu32:2.6-1ubuntu3.1
2:2.6-1ubuntu3.2
inetutils
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
 before 2:2.7-2ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions
2:2.6-1ubuntu32:2.6-4ubuntu12:2.7-2ubuntu1
2:2.7-2ubuntu1.1

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubmbanyamer/CVE-2026-28372-GNU-inetutils-telnetd-Privilege-Escalation2026-02-27
PoC in GitHubkalibb/CVE-2026-28372-GNU-inetutils-telnetd-Privilege-Escalation-main2026-02-28
PoC in GitHubRohitberiwala/CVE-2026-28372-telnetd-Privilege-Escalation2026-03-07

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
affected, aliases, exploits, referencesOSV
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

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

In short

CVE-2026-28372 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.4) in Gnu Inetutils, published February 19, 2026. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.41%, the 36th percentile. Fixed in inetutils-telnet 2.8-r0.

References

Show 13 moreShow less
Pages All vulnerabilities Browse Docs Sources Guide Get API key
MoveEnter Open