CVE-2026-24061

Published Jan 21, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.8 Critical EPSS 99.0% KEV · Listed
Description
telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4453-1 inetutils security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4527-1 inetutils security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6106-1 inetutils security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7992-1 Inetutils vulnerability
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7992-2 Inetutils vulnerability
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Remote Authentication Bypass via USER Environment Variable in GNU Inetutils telnetd
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Remote Authentication Bypass via USER Environment Variable in GNU Inetutils telnetd
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Remote Authentication Bypass in telnetd via USER Variable Manipulation
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Remote Authentication Bypass in telnetd via USER Variable Manipulation
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Remote Authentication Bypass in GNU Inetutils Telnetd Using USER Environment Variable
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Remote Authentication Bypass in GNU Inetutils Telnetd Using USER Environment Variable
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Debian
Debian debian Linux
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Debian
Debian debian Linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'active', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics kev

{'dateAdded': '2026-01-26T00:00:00+00:00', 'dueDate': '2026-02-16T00:00:00+00:00'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Gnu
Gnu inetutils
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:gnu:inetutils:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Gnu
Gnu inetutils
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.
Weaknesses CWE-88
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
mitre
Published
Updated
Sep 29, 2026, 7:43 PM
Reserved
Jan 21, 2026, 6:42 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jan 21, 2026, 7:16 AM
Modified
Sep 30, 2026, 11:47 AM