Local privilege escalation via symlink-following file operations
Published Jan 22, 2026 · Updated Jan 22, 2026
Symlink following in openCryptoki 2.3.2 through 3.26.0 allows local users to alter protected files through privileged tools. Token-directory code and administrative tools use stat(), chmod(), chown(), or fopen() without lstat() or O_NOFOLLOW, so they follow attacker-planted links and change the target's ownership or mode. Exploitation requires token-group membership and a later root-run PKCS#11 application or maintenance tool; the resulting writes can expose sensitive files or enable root escalation.
Summary
What happened
Symlink following in openCryptoki 2.3.2 through 3.26.0 allows local users to alter protected files through privileged tools. Token-directory code and administrative tools use stat(), chmod(), chown(), or fopen() without lstat() or O_NOFOLLOW, so they follow attacker-planted links and change the target's ownership or mode. Exploitation requires token-group membership and a later root-run PKCS#11 application or maintenance tool; the resulting writes can expose sensitive files or enable root escalation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-23893
- Published
- Jan 22, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 22, 2026
- Vendor
- openCryptoki
- Product
- openCryptoki
- Classifications
- CWE-59, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 22, 2026Record 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=>= 2.3.2
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
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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