CVE-2026-91840 Networkmanager-vpnc: networkmanager-vpnc: local privilege escalation to root via newline injection in vpn username
Local attackers can escalate privileges to root by injecting newlines into the VPN username field to execute arbitrary programs.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-91840?
CVE-2026-91840 is a high-severity vulnerability in GNOME NetworkManager-vpnc, published on 25 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A flaw was found in NetworkManager-vpnc. This vulnerability allows a local unprivileged user to escalate privileges to root. By injecting a newline character into the VPN username field, an attacker can manipulate the vpnc configuration to execute an arbitrary program with root privileges when the malicious VPN connection is activated.
Weakness: CWE-93
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-91840?
How do I fix CVE-2026-91840?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-91840 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-91840 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-91840 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-91840, GHSA-p2g6-ffcc-pqqv, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-91840.