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TI-2026-19329 Aliases CVE-2026-23988

Rufus has Local Privilege Escalation via TOCTOU Race Condition in Fido Script Handling

Priority HIGH 67CWE-367Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives. Versions 4.11 and below contain a race condition (TOCTOU) in src/net.c during the creation, validation, and execution of the Fido PowerShell script. Since Rufus runs with elevated privileges (Administrator) but writes the script to the %TEMP% directory (writeable by standard users) without locking the file, a local attacker can replace the legitimate script with a malicious one between the file write operation and the execution step. This allows arbitrary code execution with Administrator privileges. This issue has been fixed in version 4.12_BETA.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00206 10th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed rufus (pbatard): 4.12_BETA

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
pbatardrufusbefore 4.12_BETA4.12_BETAPatch availableCNA
  • rufus Vendorpbatard Affected before 4.12_BETA Fixed in 4.12_BETA Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:akeo:rufus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 4.12VulnerableAkeo Consulting
  • cpe:2.3:a:akeo:rufus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.12 Vulnerable ·Akeo Consulting

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA rufus (pbatard) Fixed in 4.12_BETA

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-23988

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Other 1

  • TI-2025-19561 Local Privilege Escalation in Rufus 4.6 and previous versions CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.8

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences