CVE-2026-6842: Nano: nano: local attacker can inject malicious .desktop launcher due to insecure directory permissions

Published Apr 21, 2026
·
Updated

A flaw was found in nano. In environments with permissive umask settings, a local attacker can exploit incorrect directory permissions (0777 instead of 0700) for the `~/.local` directory. This allows the attacker to inject a malicious `.desktop` launcher, which could lead to unintended actions or information disclosure if the launcher is subsequently processed.

Affected Software

2 affected componentsFixes available
GNU Nano
Microsoft azl3 nano 6.4-2

Event History

Apr 21, 2026
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·08:47 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Apr 22, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:34 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:34 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
May 3, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:02 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:02 AM
Affected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·08:02 AM
DescriptionSeverity
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-6842?

CVE-2026-6842 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability due to its potential exploitation by local attackers.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-6842?

To mitigate CVE-2026-6842, correct the directory permissions of the ~/.local directory to 0700.

3

Who is affected by CVE-2026-6842?

CVE-2026-6842 affects users of GNU Nano with permissive umask settings that lead to insecure directory permissions.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-6842?

CVE-2026-6842 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious .desktop launcher files.

5

Can CVE-2026-6842 be exploited remotely?

No, CVE-2026-6842 can only be exploited by local attackers with access to the system.

Contact

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