CVE-2000-0296: fcheck allows local users to gain privileges by embedding shell metacharacters into file names that are pro...

Security readout for executives and security teams

fcheck, a file integrity monitoring tool, contains a flaw that lets a local user on the same system trick it into running unintended commands by creating files with special characters in their names. Because fcheck typically runs with elevated privileges, this can allow that local user to gain higher-level access on the machine. This is an old (2000) issue tied to a specific legacy Unix utility. Very limited today. fcheck is a legacy Unix utility from the late 1990s/early 2000s and is rarely deployed on modern systems. Exposure requires a local user account with write access to a directory that fcheck scans, plus fcheck being executed with higher privileges (typically root via cron). No affected product/version list is enumerated in the CVE record beyond fcheck 2.7.45 referenced in the Bugtraq post. Low business priority in most environments. This is a 25-year-old local privilege escalation in a niche legacy tool. Only material if legacy Unix systems still run fcheck; if so, treat as a housekeeping item alongside broader legacy tooling review. Mitigation focus: Inventory systems for fcheck installations and remove or replace if no longer required.; Upgrade to a fixed fcheck release; if unclear, consult vendor/project guidance for current status.; Restrict write access on directories fcheck scans to trusted accounts only..

Prepared

Jul 12, 2026, 00:03 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.