Critical Local Privilege Escalation in cifs-utils Package
Summary
ALSA-2026:39575: Important: cifs-utils security, bug fix, and enhancement update. Affects cifs-utils versions < 7.0-5.el8_10. Fixed in 7.0-5.el8_10. How to fix ↓
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Background
The cifs-utils package is essential for Linux systems to mount and manage SMB/CIFS shares, allowing seamless file sharing with Windows machines. It provides tools that integrate with the Linux kernel to treat remote shares as local file systems. This functionality is crucial for environments where interoperability between Linux and Windows is necessary, making cifs-utils a widely used package in mixed-OS networks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-12505 allows for local privilege escalation through a forged cifs.spnego key description in the cifs.upcall utility. This flaw can be exploited by an attacker with local access to the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or system control. The issue arises from improper handling of security tokens, which can be manipulated to escalate privileges.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
7.0-5.el8_10
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo dnf update cifs-utilsTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, users can restrict access to the cifs-utils tools and ensure that only trusted users have local access to the system. This can help mitigate the risk of exploitation until the package is updated.
Conclusion
The cifs-utils package is critical for file sharing between Linux and Windows systems, but it has a serious vulnerability (CVE-2026-12505) that can lead to local privilege escalation. Users are urged to update to the patched version to secure their systems and mitigate potential risks.
See every vulnerability recorded for cifs-utils →
FAQ
CVE-2026-12505 is a vulnerability in the cifs-utils package that allows local privilege escalation through a forged cifs.spnego key description.
You can use the Vulert platform to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Visit Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without any signup.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system control, posing significant security risks.
You can update the cifs-utils package by running 'sudo dnf update cifs-utils' in your terminal.
Yes, you can restrict access to the cifs-utils tools and ensure that only trusted users have local access to the system as a temporary measure.
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