CVE-2026-68766 hashcat through 7.1.2 Arbitrary File Write via Restore File Option Injection
Attackers can inject options into hashcat restore files to write arbitrary content to system files, potentially achieving code execution.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-68766?
CVE-2026-68766 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in hashcat, published on 22 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
hashcat fails to restrict command-line options when parsing restore files, allowing attackers to inject output-redirecting options like --outfile and --potfile-path. Attackers can craft restore files with malicious options to append attacker-controlled content to arbitrary files, enabling code execution when targeting shell startup files.
Weakness: CWE-88
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-68766?
How do I fix CVE-2026-68766?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-68766 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-68766 exists.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-68766, GHSA-5qq7-x27p-hfq4, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-68766.