CVE-2026-41489

8.8 HIGH 0.1% exploit odds Fix listed Disclosure

What it is

Pi-hole is a DNS sinkhole that protects devices from unwanted content without installing any client-side software. From 6.0 to before Core 6.4.2 and FTL 6.6.1, two shell scripts executed as root by systemd (pihole-FTL-prestart.sh and pihole-FTL-poststop.sh) read the files.pid path from this config without validation and use it in privileged file operations (install and rm -f). By writing an arbitrary path into files.pid, an attacker with pihole privilege can cause root to delete and then recreate any file on the system outside the ProtectSystem=full-restricted directories, gaining write access to it. On a default Pi-hole installation this yields local privilege escalation to root via SSH authorized keys manipulation. If /root/.ssh/authorized_keys does not exist (default on fresh installs), only ExecStartPre is required. If the file exists, ExecStopPost deletes it first, and the same restart triggers both hooks in sequence. This vulnerability is fixed in Core 6.4.2 and FTL 6.6.1.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2026-05-11 21:19 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 10:46 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.1% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 8.8 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2026-05-11 21:19 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 10:46 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-15
Record status: Deferred

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 8.8

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Is it in your code?

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Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-41489.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-41489. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record