CVE-2026-55601
MultiTail: Shell injection in execute-on-match command handling
MultiTail is a utility for monitoring multiple log files in one terminal. In version 7.1.5 and earlier, the -ex and -eX execute-on-match feature appended attacker-controlled matched input to a configured command inside double quotes, then check_filter_exec() in mt.c passed the constructed command through execute_program() in exec.c to sh -c. Partial escaping left shell metacharacters such as command substitution active, allowing an attacker who could influence monitored input to execute commands as the user running MultiTail. No fixed release is available as of this review.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.3
MultiTail: Shell injection in execute-on-match command handling
MultiTail is a utility for monitoring multiple log files in one terminal. In version 7.1.5 and earlier, the -ex and -eX execute-on-match feature appended attacker-controlled matched input to a configured command inside double quotes, then check_filter_exec() in mt.c passed the constructed command through execute_program() in exec.c to sh -c. Partial escaping left shell metacharacters such as command substitution active, allowing an attacker who could influence monitored input to execute commands as the user running MultiTail. No fixed release is available as of this review.
- Record
CVE-2026-55601- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-100521
7.3
MultiTail is a utility for monitoring multiple log files in one terminal. In version 7.1.5 and earlier, the -ex and -eX execute-on-match feature appended attacker-controlled matched input to a configured command inside double quotes, then check_filter_exec() in mt.c passed the constructed command through execute_program() in exec.c to sh -c. Partial escaping left shell metacharacters such as command substitution active, allowing an attacker who could influence monitored input to execute commands as the user running MultiTail. No fixed release is available as of this review.
- Record
EUVD-2026-100521- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.3
MultiTail is a utility for monitoring multiple log files in one terminal. In version 7.1.5 and earlier, the -ex and -eX execute-on-match feature appended attacker-controlled matched input to a configured command inside double quotes, then check_filter_exec() in mt.c passed the constructed command through execute_program() in exec.c to sh -c. Partial escaping left shell metacharacters such as command substitution active, allowing an attacker who could influence monitored input to execute commands as the user running MultiTail. No fixed release is available as of this review.
- Record
CVE-2026-55601- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.3
MultiTail: Shell injection in execute-on-match command handling
MultiTail is a utility for monitoring multiple log files in one terminal. In version 7.1.5 and earlier, the -ex and -eX execute-on-match feature appended attacker-controlled matched input to a configured command inside double quotes, then check_filter_exec() in mt.c passed the constructed command through execute_program() in exec.c to sh -c. Partial escaping left shell metacharacters such as command substitution active, allowing an attacker who could influence monitored input to execute commands as the user running MultiTail. No fixed release is available as of this review.
- Record
CVE-2026-55601- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-78
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-55601 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.3) in Folkertvanheusden Multitail, published October 13, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.21%, the 11th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/folkertvanheusden/multitail/security/advisories/GHSA-54vm-wwx8-856h
github.com/folkertvanheusden/multitail/issues/56
github.com/folkertvanheusden/multitail/commit/84f304e140261034e33796bab81e9bf4f09d153c
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/55xxx/CVE-2026-55601.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-55601