CVE-2026-78408

high

Description

The nsenter --join-cgroup option opens the target cgroup.procs file as root and leaves that file descriptor open across later namespace and credential changes and across execve(). Because the kernel checks later cgroup migrations using the credentials from the original open, a program run in an attacker-controlled target can inherit root's ability to move host processes between cgroups. After a privileged operator uses --join-cgroup against that target, an unprivileged user can migrate and terminate unrelated root processes.

References

https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-55fx-f4gg-cfhj

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2522497

https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-78408

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63162

Details

Source: Mitre, NVD

Published: 2026-09-02

Updated: 2026-09-03

Risk Information

CVSS v2

Base Score: 7.2

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Severity: High

CVSS v3

Base Score: 7.9

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H

Severity: High

EPSS

EPSS: 0.00112