CVE-2022-0563Public exploit

Local file disclosure via unsafe Readline configuration

Published Feb 21, 2022 · Updated Jun 9, 2025

Information disclosure in util-linux before 2.37.4 allows local users to read parts of root-owned files through chfn or chsh. When these set-user-ID utilities are built with Readline support, Readline trusts the user-controlled INPUTRC path and prints unparseable file content in configuration-error messages. A low-privileged account and an affected utility running with elevated rights are required; exposed secrets can support further privilege escalation.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in util-linux before 2.37.4 allows local users to read parts of root-owned files through chfn or chsh. When these set-user-ID utilities are built with Readline support, Readline trusts the user-controlled INPUTRC path and prints unparseable file content in configuration-error messages. A low-privileged account and an affected utility running with elevated rights are required; exposed secrets can support further privilege escalation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0563
Published
Feb 21, 2022
Updated
Jun 9, 2025
Vendor
util-linux
Product
util-linux
Classifications
CWE-209, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 21, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 9, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=util-linux 2.37.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

util-linux · util-linuxversion=util-linux 2.37.4

Published CVSS scores

5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-209Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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