Busybox: busybox: arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 1 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
Why it matters now
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
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2026:13831 Released 2026-05-05 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update
- Red Hat Hardened Images busybox-1.37.0-7.2.hum1@aarch64, busybox-1.37.0-7.2.hum1@src, busybox-1.37.0-7.2.hum1@x86_64 +4
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat Hardened Images — RHSA-2026:13831
2 records Highest priority Priority LOW 2 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-21149 Busybox: busybox: arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entriesPriority LOW 32
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Fixed | RHSA-2026:13831 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-26157
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xm63-5pjx-vrhp
- 2026-10-09 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
More Red Hat vulnerabilities
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- TI-2019-03949 Out-of-bounds write in ESXi and Horizon DaaS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
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Sources
- CVE-2026-26157 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-26157 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xm63-5pjx-vrhp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-26157 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences