Intelligence online17 sources monitored8 actively exploited 7d26 published 24hChecked recently
Vulnerability record

CVE-2026-24061

GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability

CriticalExploitation confirmedCISA KEV
What should I do?

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog: attackers are using it. If you run InetUtils, fix it now.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

US federal civilian agencies must remediate by Feb 16, 2026.

Patch status

Official fix available since

Apply the vendor's update to every affected system. Check the fixed-in versions below where known.

Basis: NVD patch reference

Description

telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database. Official vulnerability data, reproduced as published.

Affected products

ProductVendorAffected versionsSource
InetUtilsGNU>= 1.9.3, <= 2.7KEV

Sources: KEV = CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Intelligence timeline

Developments from the last 30 days, newest first.

  1. CVSS scoredUpdateKEV

    CVE-2026-24061 scored CVSS 9.8: GNU InetUtils, GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability

    CISA lists this as exploited in the wild. Unpatched InetUtils systems are exposed to active attacks now.

    Basis: NIST National Vulnerability Database

  2. Patch releasedUpdateKEV

    Patch released for CVE-2026-24061: GNU InetUtils, GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability

    An official fix is now available for GNU InetUtils. This vulnerability is being exploited, so apply it promptly.

    Basis: NVD patch reference

1 earlier event is available with a subscription. See plans.

Coverage

We have not published a story about this vulnerability yet.

References

  • cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/inetutils.git
  • codeberg.org https://codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/ccba9f748aa8d50a38d7748e2e60362edd6a32cc
  • codeberg.org https://codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/fd702c02497b2f398e739e3119bed0b23dd7aa7b
  • nvd.nist.gov https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24061
  • lists.gnu.org https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-inetutils/2026-01/msg00004.html
  • redteam.ae https://redteam.ae/blog/cve-2026-24061-inetutils-telnetd-root-bypass
  • gnu.org https://www.gnu.org/software/inetutils/
  • openwall.com https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2
  • openwall.com https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/8
  • vicarius.io https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-24061-detection-script-remote-authentication-bypass-in-gnu-ine…
  • vicarius.io https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-24061-mitigation-script-remote-authentication-bypass-in-gnu-in…
  • openwall.com http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/22/1
  • lists.debian.org https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/01/msg00025.html
  • cisa.gov https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-24061
  • labs.greynoise.io https://www.labs.greynoise.io/grimoire/2026-01-22-f-around-and-find-out-18-hours-of-unsolicited-houseguests/in…
  • openwall.com https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2#:~:text=root@...a%3A~%20USER='