CVE-2026-111802 Red Hat CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for configuring and securing Nautilus, as well as users who interact with removable drives or disk images, should assess exposure and implement compensating controls. This includes verifying Nautilus configurations, monitoring user activity, and implementing measures to prevent arbitrary file deletion. IT teams and security professionals managing systems with Nautilus should prioritize patching or mitigating the vulnerability to avoid

Why it matters

The flaw in Nautilus allows an attacker to trick a user into deleting arbitrary files, which can lead to data loss and system compromise if not properly mitigated.

• Verify Nautilus configurations to prevent exploitation
• Implement compensating controls to limit file deletion
• Monitor user activity related to removable drives or disk images

Technical summary

The CVE record describes a flaw in Nautilus where an attacker can exploit the trash prompt to delete arbitrary files accessible to the user. This occurs due to Nautilus prompting the user to empty the trash without verifying whether the trash directory paths are symbolic links when a removable drive or disk image is unmounted or ejected. An attacker can trick a user into mounting a crafted storage volume and confirming the prompt to empty the trash, leading to potential data loss and system compromise. The technical impact involves the ability to delete files without proper authorization, highlighting the need for verifying Nautilus configurations, user permissions, and implementing compensating controls.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying Nautilus configurations, user permissions, and implementing compensating controls to prevent arbitrary file deletion.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify Nautilus configurations and user permissions to prevent exploitation
• Implement compensating controls to limit file deletion
• Monitor for suspicious activity related to removable drives or disk images
• Review and update incident response plans to address potential data loss and system compromise
• Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify exposed systems and prioritize remediation
• Engage with the Nautilus community or Red Hat support for guidance on patching or mitigating the vulnerability
• Track and document changes to Nautilus configurations and user activities for auditing and forensic analysis

Evidence notes

The CVE record and NVD entry provide details on the flaw in Nautilus, but evidence is limited regarding affected versions, exploitation, and remediation. Further verification is needed to understand the scope of the vulnerability and to implement effective mitigations. The Nautilus team and Red Hat security team have provided some information, but additional details are required for comprehensive risk assessment and remediation planning.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.