Local code execution via bare kenv lookup
Published Apr 8, 2026 · Updated Apr 8, 2026
PATH hijacking in OpenTelemetry-Go 1.15.0 through 1.42.0 allows local users to execute code through the BSD host ID detector. The sdk/resource host ID reader passes the bare name kenv to exec.Command, which searches attacker-influenced PATH entries instead of a fixed path. Exploitation requires local access, a writable earlier PATH directory, no /etc/hostid, and resource detection at application startup; injected code runs with the application's privileges.
Summary
What happened
PATH hijacking in OpenTelemetry-Go 1.15.0 through 1.42.0 allows local users to execute code through the BSD host ID detector. The sdk/resource host ID reader passes the bare name kenv to exec.Command, which searches attacker-influenced PATH entries instead of a fixed path. Exploitation requires local access, a writable earlier PATH directory, no /etc/hostid, and resource detection at application startup; injected code runs with the application's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-39883
- Published
- Apr 8, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 8, 2026
- Vendor
- OpenTelemetry
- Product
- OpenTelemetry-Go
- Classifications
- CWE-426, T1574.007
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 8, 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=>= 1.15.0, < 1.43.0
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
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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