Description
umount in util-linux 2.8 to 2.12q, 2.13-pre1, and 2.13-pre2, and other packages such as loop-aes-utils, allows local users with unmount permissions to gain privileges via the -r (remount) option, which causes the file system to be remounted with just the read-only flag, which effectively clears the nosuid, nodev, and other flags.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | util-linux | 2.12a-16.EL4.12 | RHSA-2005:782 |
| RHEL 3 | mount +2 | 2.11y-31.11 | RHSA-2005:782 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2005:782 Red Hat Security Advisory: util-linux and mount security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-823-1 util-linux - privilege escalation Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-825-1 loop-aes-utils - privilege escalation Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 101960 vendor-advisory
- 17133 third-party-advisory
- FLSA:168326 vendor-advisory
- utillinux-umount-gain-privileges(22241) vdb-entry
- 19369 vdb-entry
- DSA-823 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2005:021 vendor-advisory
- 16785 third-party-advisory
- 2005-0049 vendor-advisory
- 16988 third-party-advisory
- DSA-825 vendor-advisory
- 17154 third-party-advisory
- USN-184 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2006-014.htm
- 18502 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10921 vdb-entry signature
- 17027 third-party-advisory
- 20050912 util-linux: unintentional grant of privileges by umount mailing-list
- 17004 third-party-advisory
- 14816 vdb-entry