CVE-2024-48991

Published Nov 19, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS 6.1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Qualys discovered that needrestart, before version 3.8, allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by winning a race condition and tricking needrestart into running their own, fake Python interpreter (instead of the system's real Python interpreter). The initial security fix (6ce6136) introduced a regression which was subsequently resolved (42af5d3).

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Edit /etc/needrestart/needrestart.conf so that the following line appears after "# Disable interpreter scanners." and reboot: $nrconf{interpscan} = 0;

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-3957-1 needrestart security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-5815-1 needrestart security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2024-43194 Qualys discovered that needrestart, before version 3.8, allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by winning a race condition and tricking needrestart into running their own, fake Python interpreter (instead of the system's real Python interpreter). The initial security fix (6ce6136) introduced a regression which was subsequently resolved (42af5d3).
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7117-1 needrestart and Module::ScanDeps vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:needrestart_project:needrestart:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Qualys discovered that needrestart, before version 3.8, allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by winning a race condition and tricking needrestart into running their own, fake Python interpreter (instead of the system's real Python interpreter). Qualys discovered that needrestart, before version 3.8, allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by winning a race condition and tricking needrestart into running their own, fake Python interpreter (instead of the system's real Python interpreter). The initial security fix (6ce6136) introduced a regression which was subsequently resolved (42af5d3).
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Needrestart Project
Needrestart Project needrestart
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:needrestart_project:needrestart:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Needrestart Project
Needrestart Project needrestart
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Qualys discovered that needrestart, before version 3.8, allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by winning a race condition and tricking needrestart into running their own, fake Python interpreter (instead of the system's real Python interpreter).
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
canonical
Published
Updated
Nov 3, 2025, 10:22 PM
Reserved
Oct 11, 2024, 4:13 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Nov 19, 2024, 6:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 7:59 AM