CVE-2026-85656

Root command execution via newline-bearing JVM paths

Published Sep 4, 2026 · Updated Sep 4, 2026

OS command injection in Amazon Web Services log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch before 1.3-9.amzn2 allows local users to execute commands as root. The privileged hotpatch service treats embedded newline characters in a discovered Java executable path as command syntax while processing running JVMs. A low-privilege local user who can start a Java process with such a path can gain root-level command execution on the host.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability1.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Amazon Web Services log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch before 1.3-9.amzn2 allows local users to execute commands as root. The privileged hotpatch service treats embedded newline characters in a discovered Java executable path as command syntax while processing running JVMs. A low-privilege local user who can start a Java process with such a path can gain root-level command execution on the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-85656
Published
Sep 4, 2026
Updated
Sep 4, 2026
Vendor
Amazon Web Services
Product
log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatch
Classifications
CWE-78, CAPEC-248, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 4, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <1.3-9.amzn2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Amazon Web Services · log4j-cve-2021-44228-hotpatchversion=0 <1.3-9.amzn2

Published CVSS scores

8.5AmazonCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8AmazonCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CAPEC-248Command Injection
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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