Description
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.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNU | libextractor | < 1.16 | 1.16 |
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 | libextractor | 1:1.17-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libextractor | No fix yet | — |
References
- https://github.com/Haitam-lazaar/libextractor-privesc exploit third-party-advisory
- https://git.gnunet.org/gnunet/libextractor/commit/6edfa653c048800e24a17f7e8cc2bb42659b8d01.html patch
- https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/libextractor/ release-notes
- https://www.gnu.org/software/libextractor/ product
- VulnCheck Advisory: GNU libextractor before 1.16 Privilege Escalation via LIBEXTRACTOR_PREFIX third-party-advisory