---
id: CVE-2026-53612
title: util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities
summary: >-
  util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. In util-linux 2.39
  through 2.41.4 and 2.42 through 2.42.1, the SUID `mount` utility's
  `hook_owner.c` post-mount hook performs path-based `chmod()` and `lchown()`
  operations on a previ…
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-367
published: '2026-10-14'
updated: '2026-10-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-14T19:17:17.210'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53612'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/24da33905c7115c4cbccd0afb2a469804e96467a
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/722c96974dd4009a334e4aee556eedaab5fb94b4
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/897a08c2b11dfa66975c3d24d63c7bf5f5be1a7c
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/d0c5adaeb3a3d823aba1377794de8f009b8152cc
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.41.5'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/releases/tag/v2.42.2'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/security/advisories/GHSA-g8wm-75wr-g2vh
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
ingestedAt: '2026-10-14T15:36:14.019Z'
---

## Overview

util-linux is a random collection of Linux utilities. In util-linux 2.39 through 2.41.4 and 2.42 through 2.42.1, the SUID `mount` utility's `hook_owner.c` post-mount hook performs path-based `chmod()` and `lchown()` operations on a previously validated mount target. A local low-privileged user authorized by an `/etc/fstab` entry with `user` or `users` and an `X-mount.mode`, `X-mount.owner`, or `X-mount.group` option can use `renameat2(RENAME_EXCHANGE)` to race a writable ancestor of the target and redirect the privileged ownership or mode change to a root-owned path, potentially gaining root privileges. This issue is fixed in 2.41.5 and 2.42.2.

## Remediation

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