---
id: CVE-2026-100310
title: >-
  GNU libextractor before 1.16 loads plugins from an untrusted search path
  specified by the LIBEXTRACTOR_PREFIX environment variable without proper
  privilege checks
summary: >-
  GNU libextractor before 1.16 loads plugins from an untrusted search path
  specified by the LIBEXTRACTOR_PREFIX environment variable without proper
  privilege checks. A local attacker can exploit this by setting
  LIBEXTRACTOR_PREFIX to a dir…
severity: high
cvss: 7
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-426
vendor: GNU
product: libextractor
affected:
  - libextractor < 1.16
published: '2026-09-25'
updated: '2026-09-26'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-26T01:16:59.740'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-100310'
references:
  - url: 'https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/libextractor/'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.gnunet.org/gnunet/libextractor/commit/6edfa653c048800e24a17f7e8cc2bb42659b8d01.html
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/Haitam-lazaar/libextractor-privesc'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'https://www.gnu.org/software/libextractor/'
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: >-
      https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/gnu-libextractor-before-1.16-privilege-escalation-via-libextractor-prefix
    label: disclosure@vulncheck.com
  - url: 'http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/09/25/25'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
ingestedAt: '2026-09-25T20:17:49.417Z'
---

## Overview

GNU libextractor before 1.16 loads plugins from an untrusted search path specified by the LIBEXTRACTOR_PREFIX environment variable without proper privilege checks. A local attacker can exploit this by setting LIBEXTRACTOR_PREFIX to a directory containing a malicious plugin that executes arbitrary code with elevated privileges when loaded by a setuid or setgid program.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.