Root command execution via unsafe Perl scanning
Published Nov 19, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Command injection in needrestart before 3.8 allows local users to execute arbitrary shell commands as root during Perl process scans. A pipe-suffixed attacker-controlled Perl script path reaches Module::ScanDeps::scan_file, whose two-argument open interprets the path as a shell command. Exploitation requires a local user process and a privileged needrestart run with interpreter scanning enabled, which is the default and occurs through package-management hooks.
Summary
What happened
Command injection in needrestart before 3.8 allows local users to execute arbitrary shell commands as root during Perl process scans. A pipe-suffixed attacker-controlled Perl script path reaches Module::ScanDeps::scan_file, whose two-argument open interprets the path as a shell command. Exploitation requires a local user process and a privileged needrestart run with interpreter scanning enabled, which is the default and occurs through package-management hooks.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-11003
- Published
- Nov 19, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- NeedRestart Project
- Product
- needrestart
- Classifications
- CWE-78, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 19, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <3.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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