CVE-2026-6842
Nano: nano: local attacker can inject malicious .desktop launcher due to insecure directory permissions
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
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
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
2.5
Nano: nano: local attacker can inject malicious .desktop launcher due to insecure directory permissions
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
CVE-2026-6842- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-732
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-24633
2.5
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
EUVD-2026-24633- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-ccfr-97mr-qq8g
2.5
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can...
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
GHSA-ccfr-97mr-qq8g- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-732
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
2.5
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
CVE-2026-6842- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-732
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
2.5
Nano: nano: local attacker can inject malicious .desktop launcher due to insecure directory permissions
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
CVE-2026-6842- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-732
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-6842
2.5
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-6842- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 7 moreShow less
OSVOESA-2026-2160
5.5
nano security update
Nano is a tiny GNU editor
Security Fix(es):
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.(CVE-2026-6842)
A flaw was found in nano. A local user could exploit a format string vulnerability in the statusline() function. By creating a directory with a name containing printf specifiers, the application attempts to display this name, leading to a segmentation fault (SEGV). This results in a Denial of Service (DoS) for the nano application.(CVE-2026-6843)
- Record
OESA-2026-2160- CVSS 3.1
- 5.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-6842
2.5
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-6842- CVSS 3.1
- 2.5 Low
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-85557 No score
CVE-2026-6842 affecting package nano for versions less than 6.4-3
A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the ~/.local directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious .desktop launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.
- Record
AZL-85557- Updated
- 2026-11-05
OSVMGASA-2026-0121 No score
Updated nano packages fix security vulnerabilities
Local attacker can inject malicious .desktop launcher due to insecure directory permissions. (CVE-2026-6842) Format string vulnerability leads to denial of service. (CVE-2026-6843)
- Record
MGASA-2026-0121- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:10851-1 No score
nano-9.0-2.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the nano-9.0-2.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:10851-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:21166-1 No score
Security update for nano
This update for nano fixes the following issues:
Changes in nano:
-
Update to version 9.1:
- When searching, the viewport is placed snug left where possible.
- The ability to read and write files in old Mac format (a lone carriage return as line ending) was removed.
- The ^T toggle between WhereIs and GotoLine was dropped.
- Fix backups that were missing or had a wrong timestamp when --backup is active.
- On a crash or kill, a .save file is no longer chmodded or chowned to the base file's permissions and owner.
- The history code now creates the ~/.local directory with limited access rights (boo#1263437; the referenced CVE-2026-40556 was rejected upstream).
- M-Ins and M-Del have become rebindable.
-
GNU nano 9.0:
- When the cursor almost goes offscreen to the right, all lines are now scrolled sideways together, by just the amount needed to keep the cursor in view. Use --solosidescroll or 'set solosidescroll' to get back the old, jerky, single-line horizontal scrolling.
- The viewport can be scrolled sideways (in steps of one
tabsize) with M-< and M->. See
man nanorcif M-< and M-> should switch between buffers (as they did earlier). - M-Left, M-Right, M-Up, and M-Down have become rebindable.
- Stopping the recording of a macro immediately after starting it cancels the recording and leaves an existing macro in place.
- Feature toggles no longer break a chain of ^K cuts or M-6 copies, except the M-K cut-from-cursor toggle.
- With --mouse and --indicator, one can click in the scrollbar area to roughly navigate within the buffer.
- CVE-2026-6843: format string vulnerability leads to denial of service (boo#1262643)
- create the ~/.local directory with limited access rights (CVE-2026-6842 boo#1263022, CVE-2026-40556 boo#1263437)
-
GNU nano 8.7.1:
- fix build against glibc-2.43 (boo#1258260)
-
GNU nano 8.7:
- At the Execute prompt, preceding the command with two pipe symbols allows implementing a copy-to-clipboard feature in nanorc on terminals that support OSC 52. See doc/sample.nanorc
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:21166-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-8386-1 No score
nano vulnerabilities
Michał Majchrowicz and Marcin Wyczechowski discovered that Nano created the ~/.local directory with incorrect permissions. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker could possibly use this issue to inject a malicious launcher file, resulting in information disclosure or other unintended actions. (CVE-2026-6842)
Michał Majchrowicz and Marcin Wyczechowski discovered that Nano incorrectly handled directory names when updating the status line. A local attacker could possibly use this issue to cause Nano to crash, resulting in a denial of service. This issue only affected Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Ubuntu 25.10, and Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. (CVE-2026-6843)
- Record
USN-8386-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
nanoAzure Linux:3 |
before 6.4-3 | 6.4-3 |
nanoDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 7.2-17.2-1+deb12u17.2-28.0-18.1-1 Show 11 moreShow less8.2-18.3-18.4-18.5-18.6-18.7-18.7.1-19.0-19.1-19.2-19.3-1 |
None known |
nanoDebian:13 |
before 8.4-1+deb13u1, plus listed versions 8.4-1 |
8.4-1+deb13u1 |
nanoDebian:14 |
before 9.0-1, plus listed versions 8.4-18.5-18.6-18.7-18.7.1-1 |
9.0-1 |
nanoMageia:9 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 7.2-1.2.mga9 | 7.2-1.2.mga9 |
nanoopenEuler:20.03-LTS-SP4 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.0-2.oe2003sp4 | 8.0-2.oe2003sp4 |
nanoopenEuler:22.03-LTS-SP4 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.0-2.oe2203sp4 | 8.0-2.oe2203sp4 |
nanoopenEuler:24.03-LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.7.1-2.oe2403sp3 | 8.7.1-2.oe2403sp3 |
nanoopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.0-2.oe2403sp1 | 8.0-2.oe2403sp1 |
nanoopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.7.1-2.oe2403sp3 | 8.7.1-2.oe2403sp3 |
Show 14 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
nanoUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
before 2.9.3-2ubuntu0.1~esm2, plus listed versions 2.8.6-32.8.7-12.9.0-12.9.1-12.9.2-12.9.3-12.9.3-22.9.3-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
2.9.3-2ubuntu0.1~esm2 |
nanoUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
before 4.8-1ubuntu1.1+esm1, plus listed versions 4.3-14.5-14.7-14.7-24.8-14.8-1ubuntu14.8-1ubuntu1.1 |
4.8-1ubuntu1.1+esm1 |
nanoUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
before 6.2-1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 5.6.1-1build15.9-16.0-16.1-16.2-16.2-1ubuntu0.1 |
6.2-1ubuntu0.2 |
nanoUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
before 7.2-2ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 7.2-17.2-27.2-2build17.2-2ubuntu0.1 |
7.2-2ubuntu0.2 |
nanoUbuntu:25.10 |
before 8.4-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 8.3-18.4-1 |
8.4-1ubuntu0.1 |
nanoUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
before 8.7.1-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 8.4-18.6-18.7-18.7.1-1 |
8.7.1-1ubuntu0.1 |
nanoUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 2.9.3-2ubuntu0.1~esm2, plus listed versions 2.8.6-32.8.7-12.9.0-12.9.1-12.9.2-12.9.3-12.9.3-22.9.3-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
2.9.3-2ubuntu0.1~esm2 |
nanoUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 4.8-1ubuntu1.1+esm1, plus listed versions 4.3-14.5-14.7-14.7-24.8-14.8-1ubuntu14.8-1ubuntu1.1 |
4.8-1ubuntu1.1+esm1 |
nanoUbuntu:22.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 6.2-1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 5.6.1-1build15.9-16.0-16.1-16.2-16.2-1ubuntu0.1 |
6.2-1ubuntu0.2 |
nanoUbuntu:24.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 7.2-2ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions 7.2-17.2-27.2-2build17.2-2ubuntu0.1 |
7.2-2ubuntu0.2 |
nanoUbuntu:25.10 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.4-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 8.3-18.4-1 |
8.4-1ubuntu0.1 |
nanoUbuntu:26.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 8.7.1-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 8.4-18.6-18.7-18.7.1-1 |
8.7.1-1ubuntu0.1 |
nanoopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 9.0-2.1 | 9.0-2.1 |
nanoopenSUSE:Leap 16.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 9.1-bp160.1.1 | 9.1-bp160.1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| facts | OSV | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-6842 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 2.5) in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, published April 22, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.08%, the 0th percentile. Fixed in nano 6.4-3.
References
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6842
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460018
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6842
github.com/advisories/GHSA-ccfr-97mr-qq8g
access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/6xxx/CVE-2026-6842.json
Show 19 moreShow less
git.savannah.gnu.org/git/nano.git
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-6842
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2026-0121.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=35466
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/ZLLMINU5CKQDNMS5OT7OKS5V6YQFIJUC
openeuler.org/zh/security/security-bulletins/detail?id=openEuler-SA-2026-2160
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6843
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-6842
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-6842
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2455314
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8386-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-6843
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6842
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-6843
bugzilla.suse.com/1258260
bugzilla.suse.com/1262643
bugzilla.suse.com/1263022
bugzilla.suse.com/1263437
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-40556