CVE-2026-24061: GNU Inetutils · Argument Injection
Affects GNU InetutilsSource CVE Database V5
Exploited in the wild · KEV due 16 Feb 2026 · public exploit available (Metasploit, Exploit-DB) · 98% EPSS : apply the vendor's fix or mitigations to GNU Inetutils now.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 15:59 UTC
- KEV deadline
- US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else. Other KEV due dates
- EPSS
- 98.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 99% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Jan 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: evidence found.
1 Metasploit module · 1 Exploit-DB entry, 98 days after disclosure
Exploited in the wildExploited: evidence found.
Listed in CISA KEV 5 days after disclosure
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
Timeline
CVE ID reserved
by MITRE Corporation
, 1 minute before disclosure
CVE published
on cve.org
, t = 0
In Threat Radar
record ingested
, 24 minutes after disclosure
Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)
exploitation confirmed
, 5 days after disclosure
KEV remediation due
US federal deadline
, 26 days after disclosure
First Exploit-DB entry (opens in a new tab)
GNU InetUtils 2.6 - Telnetd Remote Privilege Escalation
, 98 days after disclosure
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/inetutils.git (opens in a new tab)
- codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/ccba9f748aa8d50a38d7748e2e60362edd6a32cc (opens in a new tab)
- codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/fd702c02497b2f398e739e3119bed0b23dd7aa7b (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24061 (opens in a new tab)
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| GNUInetutils | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Description
telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.
References
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/8 (opens in a new tab)
- gnu.org/software/inetutils/ (opens in a new tab)
- lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-inetutils/2026-01/msg00004.html (opens in a new tab)
- codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/fd702c02497b2f398e739e3119bed0b23dd7aa7b (opens in a new tab)
- codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/ccba9f748aa8d50a38d7748e2e60362edd6a32cc (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-24061-detection-script-remote-authentication-bypass-in-gnu-inetutils-package (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-24061-mitigation-script-remote-authentication-bypass-in-gnu-inetutils-package (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2 (opens in a new tab)
- labs.greynoise.io/grimoire/2026-01-22-f-around-and-find-out-18-hours-of-unsolicited-houseguests/index.html (opens in a new tab)
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-24061 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/22/1 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/01/msg00025.html (opens in a new tab)
- redteam.ae/blog/cve-2026-24061-inetutils-telnetd-root-bypass (opens in a new tab)