Description
The encrypted private-directory setup process in utils/ecryptfs-setup-private in ecryptfs-utils before 90 does not properly ensure that the passphrase file is created, which might allow local users to bypass intended access restrictions at a certain time in the new-user creation steps.
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 ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | ecryptfs-utils | 92-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | ecryptfs-utils | 92-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | ecryptfs-utils | 92-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | ecryptfs-utils | 83-4+squeeze1 | DSA-2382-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | ecryptfs-utils | 68-1+lenny1 | DSA-2382-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | ecryptfs-utils +2 | 82-6.el6_1.3 | RHSA-2011:1241 |
| RHEL 5 | ecryptfs-utils +2 | 75-5.el5_7.2 | RHSA-2011:1241 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | ecryptfs-utils | 108-2.5 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10118-1 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2011:1241 Red Hat Security Advisory: ecryptfs-utils security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2382-1 ecryptfs-utils - multiple Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10118-1 ecryptfs-utils-108-2.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- SUSE-SU-2011:0898 vendor-advisory
- https://launchpad.net/ecryptfs/+download
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=729465
- USN-1188-1 vendor-advisory