Nix sandbox escape
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems that makes package management reliable and reproducible. A build process has access to and can change the permissions of the build directory. After creating a setuid binary in a globally accessible location, a malicious local user can assume the permissions of a Nix daemon worker and hijack all future builds. This issue was patched in version(s) 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5 and 2.18.4.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NixOS | nix | 2.23.0 to before 2.23.1; 2.22.0 to before 2.22.2; 2.21.0 to before 2.21.3; 2.20.0 to before 2.20.7; 2.19.0 to before 2.19.5; 2.18.0 to before 2.18.4 | 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5, 2.18.4 | Patch available | CNA |
- nix VendorNixOS Affected 2.23.0 to before 2.23.1; 2.22.0 to before 2.22.2; 2.21.0 to before 2.21.3; 2.20.0 to before 2.20.7; 2.19.0 to before 2.19.5; 2.18.0 to before 2.18.4 Fixed in 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5, 2.18.4 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA nix (NixOS) Fixed in 2.23.1, 2.22.2, 2.21.3, 2.20.7, 2.19.5, 2.18.4
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-38531
References
More NixOS vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-23989 crypto: algif_aead - Revert to operating out-of-place KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2024-11208 Rsync: heap buffer overflow in rsync due to improper checksum length handling CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-19201 Tandoor Recipes module allows SQLite database to be externally accessible with the default settings CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2024-11209 Rsync: info leak via uninitialized stack contents CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2024-11212 Rsync: --safe-links option bypass leads to path traversal CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2024-11211 Rsync: path traversal vulnerability in rsync CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences