---
title: "CVE-2026-24061: GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-24061/
description: "CVE-2026-24061 (GNU InetUtils): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). telnetd in GNU Inetutils through 2.7 allows remote authentication bypass via a \"-f root\"…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-01-21
date_modified: 2026-09-29
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-24061"
kev: true
cvss: 9.8
epss: 0.98984
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-24061: GNU InetUtils Argument Injection Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run GNU InetUtils. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-01-26, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-02-16 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 99.0% , percentile 99.9: FIRST’s model estimates a 99.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.

## What it is

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

## Affected products (CVE record)

- GNU Inetutils: 1.9.3 <= 2.7

## Severity

- mitre CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-01-26; federal due date 2026-02-16. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA 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 SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 98.98% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.9.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org)](https://cgit.git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/inetutils.git)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (codeberg.org)](https://codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/ccba9f748aa8d50a38d7748e2e60362edd6a32cc)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (codeberg.org)](https://codeberg.org/inetutils/inetutils/commit/fd702c02497b2f398e739e3119bed0b23dd7aa7b)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-24061](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-24061)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-24061](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24061)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-24061)
- [openwall.com](https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2)
- [openwall.com](https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/8)
- [gnu.org](https://www.gnu.org/software/inetutils/)
- [lists.gnu.org](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-inetutils/2026-01/msg00004.html)
- [vicarius.io](https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-24061-detection-script-remote-authentication-bypass-in-gnu-inetutils-package)
- [vicarius.io](https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2026-24061-mitigation-script-remote-authentication-bypass-in-gnu-inetutils-package)
- [redteam.ae](https://redteam.ae/blog/cve-2026-24061-inetutils-telnetd-root-bypass)
- [openwall.com](https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/20/2#:~:text=root@...a%3A~%20USER=')
- [labs.greynoise.io](https://www.labs.greynoise.io/grimoire/2026-01-22-f-around-and-find-out-18-hours-of-unsolicited-houseguests/index.html)
- [openwall.com](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/22/1)
- [lists.debian.org](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/01/msg00025.html)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-24061/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt