CVE-2026-91840
Networkmanager-vpnc: networkmanager-vpnc: local privilege escalation to root via newline injection in vpn username
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
- fedora
Description
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-vpnc. This vulnerability allows a local unprivileged user to escalate privileges to root. By injecting a newline character into the VPN username field, an attacker can manipulate the vpnc configuration to execute an arbitrary program with root privileges when the malicious VPN connection is activated.
Timeline
ID reserved
By fedora
- 10 days later
· 10 days later
Published
- 3 days later
· 3 days later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| fedoraCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | High7.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVDNVD · Deferred | 3.1 | High7.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 0.19% · top 91% of all CVEs (7 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 7.8.
Weakness
Affected products
- affected < *
What to do
Workaround: If vpnc VPN connections are not required, the NetworkManager-vpnc package can be removed to eliminate the vulnerability. This action will prevent the system from establishing vpnc-based VPN connections. To remove the package, execute the following command as root: `# dnf remove NetworkManager-vpnc` Note that removing this package may impact functionality if vpnc VPNs are actively used.
References (3)
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-91840 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2533642 (opens in a new tab)issue-trackingx_refsource_REDHAT
- https://gitlab.gnome.org/Archive/NetworkManager-vpnc/-/work_items/19 (opens in a new tab)
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2026-91840)Record last updated .