CVE-2026-72694

What it is

A flaw was found in MRTG. When the MRTG daemon is started as a root user and subsequently drops privileges, a local, low-privileged attacker can exploit a symbolic link (symlink) following vulnerability. By influencing or pre-placing a symlink in the process ID (PID) file path, the attacker can trick the root process into changing the ownership of an arbitrary existing file to the daemon user. This can lead to local privilege escalation, allowing unauthorized access to or modification of sensitive files.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering.

Exploit odds

0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2026-08-11 09:17 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-11-05 00:17 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: 7.1 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2026-08-11 09:17 UTC

Last modified

2026-11-05 00:17 UTC

Exploit probability

0.1% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-59

Record status

Awaiting Analysis

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.1

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-72694.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-72694. 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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