CVE-2026-44709Public exploit

Local code execution via unvalidated fallback executable

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

OS command injection in pam_usb before 0.8.7 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through the pamusb-pinentry helper. The helper passes the unvalidated PINENTRY_FALLBACK_APP value directly to subprocess.run as the executable path. A process that controls the helper's environment can run a selected binary or script with the pam_usb tool chain's privileges, without user interaction.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

OS command injection in pam_usb before 0.8.7 allows local users to execute arbitrary code through the pamusb-pinentry helper. The helper passes the unvalidated PINENTRY_FALLBACK_APP value directly to subprocess.run as the executable path. A process that controls the helper's environment can run a selected binary or script with the pam_usb tool chain's privileges, without user interaction.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-44709
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
mcdope
Product
pam_usb
Classifications
CWE-78, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.8.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

mcdope · pam_usbversion=< 0.8.7

Published CVSS scores

7.8GitHub, Inc.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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo