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CVE Record

CVE-2026-41163: bubblewrap vulnerable to privilege escalation in setuid mode via ptrace

bubblewrap is a low-level unprivileged sandboxing tool. From version 0.11.0 to before version 0.11.2, if bubblewrap is installed in setuid mode then the user can use ptrace to attach to bubblewrap and control the unprivileged part of the sandbox setup phase. This allows the attacker to arbitrarily use the privileged operations, and in particular the "overlay mount" operation, allowing the creation of overlay mounts which is otherwise not allowed in the setuid version of bubblewrap. This issue has been patched in version 0.11.2.

HighCVSS 8.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Affected bubblewrap installations may let an attacker misuse privileged sandbox setup operations, potentially escalating privileges. Exposure is limited to versions 0.11.0 through 0.11.1 when bubblewrap runs in setuid mode. Version 0.11.2 contains the patch.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority privilege-escalation issue where affected setuid installations exist. Promptly establish exposure and patch confirmed systems, while avoiding emergency escalation for environments that do not meet both stated conditions.

Technical view

During the unprivileged phase of setuid sandbox setup, an attacker can attach to bubblewrap using ptrace and influence privileged operations. This includes creating overlay mounts normally prohibited in setuid mode. The issue is classified as CWE-269 and scored CVSS 4.0 8.7.

Likely exposure

Systems are likely exposed only when bubblewrap 0.11.0 or 0.11.1 is installed and configured in setuid mode. The supplied evidence does not identify affected distributions, default configurations, or downstream package versions, so environment-specific inventory is required.

Exploitation context

The supplied record is not marked as CISA KEV, and no cited source establishes active exploitation. The vulnerability has low stated attack complexity, but practical exploitation depends on the affected version and setuid deployment condition.

Researcher notes

The advisory describes ptrace interference with the unprivileged setup phase, enabling privileged-operation misuse, particularly overlay mounts. Important unresolved details include distribution-specific packaging, default setuid use, required attacker access, and demonstrated impact beyond the described operation. No active exploitation evidence is supplied.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected bubblewrap installations to version 0.11.2 or later.
  • Prioritize systems where bubblewrap is installed in setuid mode.
  • Consult vendor or distribution guidance when direct upgrading is unavailable.

Validation and detection

  • Record the installed bubblewrap version on potentially affected systems.
  • Determine whether each installation operates in setuid mode.
  • Confirm upgraded installations report version 0.11.2 or later.
  • Review vendor advisories for downstream package-specific status.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-269: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup

Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-41163 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.7 (4.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
6Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: yesTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.7CVSS 4.0HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——GitHub_M
7CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 4.0 score

8.7High
CVSS 4.0 vector shape for CVE-2026-41163Attack VectorAttack ComplexityAttack RequirementsPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionVS ConfidentialityVS IntegrityVS AvailabilitySS ConfidentialitySS IntegritySS Availability

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Attack Requirements
NonePresent
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NonePassiveActive
VS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
VS Integrity
HighLowNone
VS Availability
HighLowNone
SS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
SS Integrity
HighLowNone
SS Availability
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPbubblewrap: bubblewrap: Privilege escalation via ptrace when installed in setuid mode
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-05-09T05:01:05.292Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-05-09T03:56:51.833Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
containersbubblewrap>= 0.11.0, < 0.11.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-269

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-269 · source CWE mapping

Improper Privilege Management

Improper Privilege Management represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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