CVE-2026-24061
Exploited in the wild. In CISA KEV since 2026‑01‑26. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
- GNU InetutilsAffected: ≥ 1.9.3, ≤ 2.7Upgrade to: after 2.7Stated by: CVE record
- ООО «РусБИТех-Астра» Astra Linux Special EditionAffected: 1.8Upgrade to: not statedStated by: BDU
- Free Software Foundation, Inc. InetutilsAffected: от 1.9.3 до 2.7 включительноUpgrade to: not statedStated by: BDU
Versions as the sources state them. Full version matrix after sign-in
Coverage timeline
1 publisherVendor patch released
Added to CISA KEV catalog
Sourced from public security reporting — each date is when it was published, not when it happened. 2 further articles named this CVE in wider roundups without reporting it as a distinct event.
What it is
From the CVE record
telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Listed as exploited in the wild since 2026-01-26.
US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-02-16.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Public exploits
1 source with a proof of concept or module.
Exploit links, PoCs and Metasploit modules after sign-in- EPSS
99% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 99th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
The patch came 23 days before any public exploit.
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- OpenVAS check added
- EPSS band changehigh → critical
- Public exploit / PoCsource: other
- Nuclei check added
Affected products
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Scored 9.8 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
- Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
Sources
References in the record
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/8
- gnu.org/software/inetutils/
And 20 more references. See all after sign-in
In the news
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We'll flag the next CVE, public exploit or patch for Inetutils, not every advisory. This one: actively exploited.
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