CVE-2026-73974 — linuxfabrik-lib: Arbitrary root file read via live --test argument (lib.lftest) across sudoers-whitelisted plugins (LPE)
linuxfabrik-lib provides Python modules for database access, caching, shell execution, and API integrations, and Linuxfabrik Monitoring Plugins uses its shared testing helper across check plugins. Prior to linuxfabrik-lib 6.1.0 and Linuxfabrik Monitoring Plugins 7.0.0, lib.lftest.test() treated the first or second element of a --test CSV argument as a filesystem path and returned the file contents as simulated standard output or standard error without path confinement. The hidden but production-accessible --test argument was accepted by sudo-authorized plugins, so an attacker controlling the nagios or icinga account could use check-plugins/deb-updates/deb-updates with its default QUERY=1 to disclose every line of a root-readable file. Approximately 22 other plugins exposed filtered content or a root file existence and readability oracle through the same helper, while check-plugins/network-bonding/network-bonding and check-plugins/openstack-swift-stat/openstack-swift-stat had direct read paths that bypassed the helper. The library fix confines fixture reads to the invoking plugin's unit-test directory and refuses unsafe anchors, and the plugin fix routes the two bypasses through that helper. These issues are fixed in linuxfabrik-lib 6.1.0 and Linuxfabrik Monitoring Plugins 7.0.0.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Technical severity (medium)+3
- CISA SSVC: exploitation "poc"+5
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linuxfabrik Lib, Linuxfabrik Monitoring-plugins).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (file handling), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linuxfabrik | Lib | version < 6.0.1 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Linuxfabrik | Monitoring-plugins | version < 7.0.0 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 1.8 | 3.6 | security-advisories@github.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | GitHub_M via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N (score shown at the top: security-advisories@github.com) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Monitor file creation in web directories and paths with traversal sequences (../).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linuxfabrik/monitoring-plugins, linuxfabrik/lib
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 5.5
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
5 on the record
- github.com/Linuxfabrik/monitoring-plugins/releases/tag/v7.0.0
- github.com/Linuxfabrik/monitoring-plugins/security/advisories/GHSA-rh9c-rqvg-f7p
- github.com/Linuxfabrik/monitoring-plugins/commit/f6680a9e4b39569f318feefdb2f51e5
- github.com/Linuxfabrik/lib/commit/d665042c55fae83a295ebc0023e8b77f6c473a28
- github.com/Linuxfabrik/lib/releases/tag/v6.1.0
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-73973 Linuxfabrik Monitoring Plugins: Arbitrary root file disclosure via unconfined --filename in logfile plugin (sudoers LPE) Aug 18, 2026
- High CVE-2026-55426 linuxfabrik-lib: Local privilege escalation using embedded command Aug 18, 2026
- Low CVE-2026-53759 linuxfabrik-lib: Insecure creation of SQLite databases Aug 18, 2026
- High CVE-2026-52817 Linuxfabrik Monitoring Plugins Sudoers: /usr/bin/apt-get arguments allow privilege escalation Aug 18, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-67433 Linuxfabrik monitoring-plugins: Symlink following in logfile legacy database migration Jul 29, 2026
- Medium CVE-2026-67435 linuxfabrik-lib: fetch() forwards credential headers across a cross-origin redirect Jul 29, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-73974 is "linuxfabrik-lib: Arbitrary root file read via live --test argument (lib.lftest) across sudoers-whitelisted plugins (LPE)", rated Medium. It affects Lib (Linuxfabrik); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 5.5 describes technical severity. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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