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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2026-54230 Red Hat CVE debrief

A symlink following vulnerability was found in the ABRT post-create event handler scripts in libreport. Event scripts write output files using shell redirections without the O_NOFOLLOW flag. If the target file is replaced with a symlink, the shell process running as root follows the symlink and writes content to the symlink target, allowing arbitrary file overwrites on the system.

Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
CVSS
HIGH 7
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-06-13
Original CVE updated
2026-08-26
Advisory published
2026-06-13
Advisory updated
2026-08-26

Who should care

Users of libreport, particularly those using ABRT (Automatic Bug Reporting Tool) post-create event handlers, should be aware of this vulnerability. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary file overwrites on the system, which could lead to a denial of service or potentially allow for privilege escalation.

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in the ABRT post-create event handler scripts in libreport. The scripts write output files using shell redirections without the O_NOFOLLOW flag. This allows an attacker to replace the target file with a symlink, causing the shell process running as root to follow the symlink and write content to the symlink target, resulting in arbitrary file overwrites on the system.

Defensive priority

High

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply patches or updates provided by the vendor to fix the vulnerability.
  • Use the O_NOFOLLOW flag when writing output files in shell redirections.
  • Monitor systems for suspicious activity, such as unexpected file modifications.

Evidence notes

The CVE-2026-54230 vulnerability was found in libreport. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7 and is classified as HIGH severity.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-54230 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-54230

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-54230 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54230

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental 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.