# 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.

- **Severity:** High 8.5 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 22 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 24 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-68766, GHSA-5qq7-x27p-hfq4, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-68766

## 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 (Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-68766?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-68766?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-68766 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-68766 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-68766 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-68766 exists.

Affected product: hashcat. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68766/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68766/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-68766
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-68766
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68766

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68766/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.