CVE-2026-88839

Busybox: busybox: passwd/group parser writes heap pointers out of bounds due to stale tokenize() endpoint

Published Sep 23, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
BusyBox passwd/group tokenize() references a stale endpoint pointer after trimming, causing an out-of-bounds write of heap pointers.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Ensure /etc/group and /etc/passwd are writable only by root and protected by mandatory access controls. Monitor these files for unauthorized modifications. Upstream should fix tokenize() to recompute tokenize_end after trimming.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Busybox
Busybox busybox
Redhat hardened Images
Vendors & Products Busybox
Busybox busybox
Redhat hardened Images
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description BusyBox passwd/group tokenize() references a stale endpoint pointer after trimming, causing an out-of-bounds write of heap pointers.
Title Busybox: busybox: passwd/group parser writes heap pointers out of bounds due to stale tokenize() endpoint
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat hummingbird
Weaknesses CWE-787
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat hummingbird
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Sep 25, 2026, 10:28 PM
Reserved
Sep 10, 2026, 9:42 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 23, 2026, 6:17 PM
Modified
Sep 25, 2026, 11:16 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 23, 2026, 4:35 PM