CVE-2026-35377: uutils coreutils env Local Denial of Service via Improper Handling of Backslashes in Split-String Mode
A logic error in the env utility of uutils coreutils causes a failure to correctly parse command-line arguments when utilizing the -S (split-string) option. In GNU env, backslashes within single quotes are treated literally (with the exceptions of \\ and \'). However, the uutils implementation incorrectly attempts to validate these sequences, resulting in an "invalid sequence" error and an immediate process termination with an exit status of 125 when encountering valid but unrecognized sequences like \a or \x. This divergence from GNU behavior breaks compatibility for automated scripts and administrative workflows that rely on standard split-string semantics, leading to a local denial of service for those operations.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-35377?
CVE-2026-35377 is classified as a denial of service vulnerability due to improper handling of backslashes.
How do I fix CVE-2026-35377?
To mitigate CVE-2026-35377, avoid using the -S (split-string) option with the env utility in uutils coreutils until a patch is released.
What versions of uutils coreutils are affected by CVE-2026-35377?
CVE-2026-35377 affects all versions of uutils coreutils that include the env utility with the -S (split-string) option.
What type of attack does CVE-2026-35377 enable?
CVE-2026-35377 can enable a local denial of service attack by causing the env command to fail when specific command-line arguments are passed.
Is CVE-2026-35377 exploitable remotely?
CVE-2026-35377 is not remotely exploitable as it requires local access to the environment where the uutils coreutils is executed.