Cups: Prior to 2.4.20, copy_model()
Affects cupsSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.7 Medium · fixed in 2.4.20 : update cups when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 22:28 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 2.4.20
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10cupspkg:deb/ubuntu/cups?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTScupspkg:deb/ubuntu/cups?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTScupspkg:deb/ubuntu/cups?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 22.04 LTScupspkg:deb/ubuntu/cups?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTScupspkg:deb/ubuntu/cups?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTScupspkg:deb/ubuntu/cups?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
OpenPrinting CUPS is an open source printing system for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Prior to 2.4.20, copy_model() in scheduler/ipp.c creates a predictable TempDir/<connection-number>.ppd path in an lp-group-writable directory and opens it as root without O_EXCL or O_NOFOLLOW. Exploitation requires an lp-group process able to write that directory to predict the connection-derived name and plant a symlink before the root open, while a privileged add-printer or modify-printer operation using a model PPD triggers copy_model(). The reporter treats an existing lp foothold and the privileged operation as distinct prerequisites, while the maintainer assesses high privileges because installing the relevant filter or administering the printer requires root or print-administrator access. If the race succeeds, the root scheduler follows the symlink and truncates or overwrites a root-writable target with generated PPD data, compromising file integrity or availability. This issue is fixed in version 2.4.20.