CVE-2024-48990Public exploit

Local root code execution via inherited PYTHONPATH

Published Nov 19, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Local privilege escalation in needrestart before 3.8 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root through a crafted Python process environment. The Python interpreter scanner copies PYTHONPATH from an unprivileged process's /proc environment and then launches Python as root, causing modules from an attacker-controlled path to load. Exploitation requires a local account, interpreter scanning to be enabled, and a privileged needrestart run such as an APT or unattended-upgrades hook.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability20.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in needrestart before 3.8 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as root through a crafted Python process environment. The Python interpreter scanner copies PYTHONPATH from an unprivileged process's /proc environment and then launches Python as root, causing modules from an attacker-controlled path to load. Exploitation requires a local account, interpreter scanning to be enabled, and a privileged needrestart run such as an APT or unattended-upgrades hook.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-48990
Published
Nov 19, 2024
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
NeedRestart Project
Product
needrestart
Classifications
CWE-427, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 19, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NeedRestart Project · needrestartversion=0 <3.8
Thomas Liske · needrestartversion=0 <3.8

Published CVSS scores

7.8Canonical Ltd.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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