Local privilege escalation in make-initrd-ng
Priority LOW 39CWE-378Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
make-initrd-ng is a tool for copying binaries and their dependencies. Local privilege escalation affecting all NixOS users. With systemd.shutdownRamfs.enable enabled (the default) a local user is able to create a program that will be executed by root during shutdown. Patches exist for NixOS 24.11 and 25.05 / unstable. As a workaround, set systemd.shutdownRamfs.enable = false;.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00186 8th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 | nixpkgs | < b17590193d8e5697000c23c66afcf11e1753734d; < fbf76bf72b161b9f4ab97704a8258776d5f3ffba | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- nixpkgs VendorNixOS Affected < b17590193d8e5697000c23c66afcf11e1753734d; < fbf76bf72b161b9f4ab97704a8258776d5f3ffba Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-32438
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