CVE-2018-6558: Privilege Escalation in github.com/google/fscrypt
Summary
CVE-2018-6558: Privilege escalation in github.com/google/fscrypt. Affects github.com/google/fscrypt versions < 0.2.4. Fixed in 0.2.4. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- fscrypt · Debian:11
The same CVE-2018-6558 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
github.com/google/fscrypt is a Go package that provides a set of tools for managing Linux filesystem encryption. It allows users to encrypt and decrypt files and directories using the Linux kernel's filesystem encryption feature. The package includes functionality for handling encryption keys, managing user privileges, and interacting with the Linux PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) system. This vulnerability affects versions 0.0.1 to 0.2.3 of the package.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in github.com/google/fscrypt allows an unprivileged user to gain membership in the root group by exploiting a privilege escalation flaw. When dropping and then elevating process privileges, the original values of euid, guid, and groups are not properly restored. This allows an attacker to escalate their privileges and gain root access, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or system compromise.
How To Fix
Latest published version: v0.3.7 as of 22 Oct 2026
go get github.com/google/fscrypt@v0.3.7Upgrading to it may include breaking changes; the version below is the minimum fixed release for this vulnerability.
If you need the minimum change
0.2.4
This is the first release that contains the fix.
go get github.com/google/fscrypt@v0.2.4Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the latest version of github.com/google/fscrypt to mitigate the risk.
Conclusion
The privilege escalation vulnerability in github.com/google/fscrypt can be mitigated by updating to version 0.2.4 or later. It is important to promptly apply the fix to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation and potential system compromise. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for github.com/google/fscrypt →
FAQ
github.com/google/fscrypt is a Go package for managing Linux filesystem encryption.
Versions 0.0.1 to 0.2.3 of github.com/google/fscrypt are affected.
This vulnerability allows an unprivileged user to gain root access, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or system compromise.
To fix this vulnerability, update to version 0.2.4 or later of github.com/google/fscrypt.
There is no known workaround. Updating to the latest version is recommended.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for github.com/google/fscrypt.
