NetworkManager-l2tp Privilege Escalation via pppd Plugin Injection
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-88.
Summary
NetworkManager-l2tp through 1.52.4, fixed in 1.52.6, contains an improper input validation vulnerability that allows local users with VPN connection creation permissions to inject arbitrary pppd directives by supplying mru or mtu property values containing trailing non-numeric content after a valid integer. Attackers can exploit the verbatim write of unvalidated strings into the pppd options file via write_config_option() to inject the plugin directive, causing the privileged pppd process to load an attacker-controlled shared object and achieve arbitrary code execution as root.
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
- Fix · CNA NetworkManager-l2tp (nm-l2tp) Fixed in 1.52.6
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-93337
References
Patch 1
More nm-l2tp vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-52786 NetworkManager-l2tp Privilege Escalation via pppd Username Injection CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-93337 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-93337 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-93337 · 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