GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

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

How to fix CVE-2026-24061

• Recommended remediation

  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.

• Official advisories

  • CISA KEV · cisa.gov
  • CVE.org · cve.org
  • FIRST EPSS · first.org
  • NIST NVD · nvd.nist.gov
  • VulnCheck KEV · vulncheck.com

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

• Repository · codeberg.org

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.

Sources

• CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-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.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-24061

  Official CVE identifier

  cve.org
• FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-24061

  30-day exploitation probability 99.0%

  first.org
• Exploit DatabasePublic exploit reference52524

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

  exploit-db.com
• Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_linux/telnet/gnu_inetutils_auth_bypass

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

  rapid7.com
• NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-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
• VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-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.

  vulncheck.com

References

• VulnCheck exploitation evidence · beelzebub.ai
• CISA note · cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org
• CISA note · codeberg.org
• CISA note · codeberg.org
• VulnCheck exploitation evidence · dashboard.shadowserver.org
• Mitigation · lists.gnu.org
• CISA note · nvd.nist.gov
• Exploit · redteam.ae
• VulnCheck exploitation evidence · viz.greynoise.io
• VulnCheck exploitation evidence · cisa.gov
• Product · gnu.org
• VulnCheck exploitation evidence · labs.greynoise.io
• Mailing List · openwall.com
• Mailing List · openwall.com
• Third Party Advisory · vicarius.io
• VulnCheck exploitation evidence · x.com

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.