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Findings

CVE-2026-24061

GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability

Published Jan 21, 2026 · updated Sep 30, 2026 · GNU InetUtils

GNU InetUtils contains an argument injection vulnerability in telnetd that could allow for remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Jan 21, 2026 · Catalog

    Detected

    GNU InetUtils contains an argument injection vulnerability in telnetd that could allow for remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

  2. Jan 26, 2026 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

  3. Feb 16, 2026 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

  4. Sep 30, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    GNU InetUtils contains an argument injection vulnerability in telnetd that could allow for remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

Required action

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

CISA due date Feb 16, 2026

Affected

  • cpe debian/debian linux11.0
  • cpe gnu/inetutilsversion unspecified
  • vendor GNU InetUtilsversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2026-24061

    GNU InetUtils contains an argument injection vulnerability in telnetd that could allow for remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2026-24061

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2026-24061

    30-day exploitation probability 99.0%

    first.org
  • Exploit Database52524

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit Modulesexploit_linux/telnet/gnu_inetutils_auth_bypass

    Public module reference (great). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDCVE-2026-24061

    telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a "-f root" value for the USER environment variable.

    nvd.nist.gov

References

CVE-2026-24061 · ZeroDay Findings