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CVE-2026-39860:

Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems. A bug in the fix for CVE-2024-27297 allowed for arbitrary overwrites of files writable by the Nix process orchestrating the builds (typically the Nix daemon running as root in multi-user installations) by following symlinks during fixed-output derivation output registration. This affects sandboxed Linux builds - sandboxed macOS builds are unaffected. The location of the temporary output used for the output copy was located inside the build chroot. A symlink, pointing to an arbitrary location in the filesystem, could be created by the derivation builder at that path. During output registration, the Nix process (running in the host mount namespace) would follow that symlink and overwrite the destination with the derivation's output contents. In multi-user installations, this allows all users able to submit builds to the Nix daemon (allowed-users - defaulting to all users) to gain root privileges by modifying sensitive files. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.34.5, 2.33.4, 2.32.7, 2.31.4, 2.30.4, 2.29.3, and 2.28.6.


Score
Info
A numerical rating that indicates how dangerous this vulnerability is.

9.0Critical
  • Published Date:Apr 8, 2026
  • CISA KEV Date:*No Data*
  • Industries Affected:20

Exploitability

  • Score:2.5
  • Attack Vector:LOCAL
  • Attack Complexity:LOW
  • Privileges Required:NONE
  • User Interaction:NONE
  • Scope:CHANGED

Impact

  • Score:5.8
  • Confidentiality Impact:HIGH
  • Integrity Impact:HIGH
  • Availability Impact:NONE

Description Preview

Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems. A bug in the fix for CVE-2024-27297 allowed for arbitrary overwrites of files writable by the Nix process orchestrating the builds (typically the Nix daemon running as root in multi-user installations) by following symlinks during fixed-output derivation output registration. This affects sandboxed Linux builds - sandboxed macOS builds are unaffected. The location of the temporary output used for the output copy was located inside the build chroot. A symlink, pointing to an arbitrary location in the filesystem, could be created by the derivation builder at that path. During output registration, the Nix process (running in the host mount namespace) would follow that symlink and overwrite the destination with the derivation's output contents. In multi-user installations, this allows all users able to submit builds to the Nix daemon (allowed-users - defaulting to all users) to gain root privileges by modifying sensitive files. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.34.5, 2.33.4, 2.32.7, 2.31.4, 2.30.4, 2.29.3, and 2.28.6.

Industries Affected

Below is a list of industries most commonly impacted or potentially at risk based on intelligence.

Low
Mining icon
Mining
Utilities icon
Utilities
Information icon
Information
Construction icon
Construction
Retail Trade icon
Retail Trade
Manufacturing icon
Manufacturing
Wholesale Trade icon
Wholesale Trade
Educational Services icon
Educational Services
Finance and Insurance icon
Finance and Insurance
Public Administration icon
Public Administration
Real Estate Rental and Leasing icon
Real Estate Rental and Leasing
Transportation and Warehousing icon
Transportation and Warehousing
Accommodation and Food Services icon
Accommodation and Food Services
Health Care and Social Assistance icon
Health Care and Social Assistance
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation icon
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
Management of Companies and Enterprises icon
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting icon
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Other Services (except Public Administration) icon
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services icon
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services icon
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

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