CVE-2026-4878
Libcap: libcap: privilege escalation via toctou race condition in cap_set_file()
- Published
- Apr 9, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 9, 2026
- Assigning CNA
- redhat
- Evidence observed
- Aug 29, 2026
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HLow · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 10.3%
- Model date
- Sep 21, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
Summary
A flaw was found in libcap. A local unprivileged user can exploit a Time-of-check-to-time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition in the `cap_set_file()` function. This allows an attacker with write access to a parent directory to redirect file capability updates to an attacker-controlled file. By doing so, capabilities can be injected into or stripped from unintended executables, leading to privilege escalation.
Sources
1- 1day-archiveResearch
Technical deep-dives and root cause analyses of recently disclosed CVEs - reverse engineering patches, building proof-of-concepts, and documenting exploitation techniques in the 1-day window.
Responsible use
Use vulnerability information only on systems you own or are authorized to test. Kitploit links to public research metadata and does not store exploit code or malicious payloads.