CVE-2026-72693Disclosure

LOWCVSS 7.8 · HIGH

Exploit discussion active in current signal (1 latest mentions)

Immediate actions

  • Prioritize remediation for affected systems immediately
  • Hunt for exploitation attempts and persistence artifacts
  • Increase monitoring for publicly documented tradecraft
  • Track advisory updates for patch or workaround availability

Recommended action window: High priority (within 72h)

NVD description

`openvt -u` is intended to identify the owner of the current VT and then execute `login` as that user from a privileged context. In the documented `kbrequest`/init usage, the ownership test in `authenticate_user()` relies on `stat("/proc/<pid>/fd/0")`. `stat()` on `/proc/<pid>/fd/0` follows the symlink to the underlying TTY device node. As a result, `buf.st_uid` reflects the owner of the TTY node rather than the owner of the process holding the file descriptor. If the TTY owner returns to `root` or the getty owner after logout while an unprivileged process still has `fd 0` attached to that TTY, the check can incorrectly treat that process as belonging to the privileged console owner. Once that check succeeds, the `-u` path executes a passwordless login as the selected user. In the documented `kbrequest`/init deployment using `openvt -us`, this can result in passwordless `login -f root` on the spawned VT. This report establishes that privilege escalation path for that documented deployment; it does not claim equivalent reachability for deployments that do not use `openvt -u` from a privileged `kbrequest`/init path.

3.5/ 10 priority

Sources & remediation

Weakness type (CWE)
CWE-284

Priority

LOW

Exploitation

NONE

PoC

YES

Patch

NONE

Momentum

NONE

Threat summary

  • Public PoC and exploit tooling are both present
  • 1 mentions across 1 observed day

What's happening

  • Exploit tool or code specified in 1 signal
  • PoC mentioned or linked in 1 signal
  • Technical details provided in 1 signal
  • Disclosure: 1 classified signal
  • 1 total mentions across 1 day

Deep dive

Activity timeline1 mentions / 1d
00111Mentions · 2026-08-11: 1PoC Mentioned / Linked · 2026-08-11: 1Exploit Tool / Code · 2026-08-11: 1Technical Details · 2026-08-11: 108-11
Signal classification1 categories
Disclosure
1100.0%
Referenced assets1 URL
By indicator
Full discourse1 post
  • HOL@HashgraphOnline
    Disclosure

    CVE-2026-72693: The kbd package ships on virtually every Linux distro. openvt -u has a local privilege escalation where stat() follows a symlink to the TTY device instead of checking the process owner, enabling passwordless login -f root. https://hol.org/blog/cve-2026-72693-kbd-openvt-privesc

    Post summary

    The post discloses CVE‑2026‑72693, explaining a local privilege escalation in Linux’s `kbd` package that triggers via `openvt -u` and symlink handling, and references a blog likely containing a PoC.

    02050816
    19.1K followersView on X

Explore more