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.
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
- 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- 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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2024-48990 Exploitfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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