Gentoo inetutils High Remote Code Exec CVE-2026-24061 GLSA 202601-01
gentoo
January 26, 2026
A vulnerability has been discovered in the telnetd module of inetutils, which allows remote code execution as root.
Summary
The telnetd server invokes /usr/bin/login (normally running as root)
passing the value of the USER environment variable received from the
client as the last parameter.
If the client supply a carefully crafted USER environment value being
the string "-f root", and passes the telnet(1) -a or --login parameter
to send this USER environment to the server, the client will be
automatically logged in as root bypassing normal authentication
processes.
This happens because the telnetd server do not sanitize the USER
environment variable before passing it on to login(1), and login(1) uses
the -f parameter to by-pass normal authentication.
Topics Covered
Resolution
All inetutils users with the telnetd USE flag enabled should upgrade to
the latest version:
# emerge --sync # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/inetutils-2.7"
# emerge --sync # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/inetutils-2.7"
References
[ 1 ] CVE-2026-24061
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24061
Availability
This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202601-01
style>.gentoo_availability{display:block;}
Concerns
Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users' machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at
https://bugs.gentoo.org.
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Severity: High
Title: inetutils: Remote Code Execution
Date: January 26, 2026
Bugs: #969065
ID: 202601-01
Topics Covered
Background
Inetutils is a collection of common network programs including a telnet
client and server.
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Affected Packages
Package Vulnerable Unaffected
------------------ ------------ ------------
net-misc/inetutils < 2.7 >= 2.7
Impact
An attacker can login as root via the telnetd daemon.
Workaround
Reinstall inetutils with the telnetd USE flag disabled. This is the
default in Gentoo.
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