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sdbootutil EUVDEUVD-2026-101945

| CVE-2026-104618 MEDIUM
Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource (CWE-732)
2026-10-15 suse GHSA-hf58-32gx-759q
6.9
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: suse
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain any local user account
  2. Exploit
    Read world-readable /var/log/sdbootutil.log
  3. Impact
    Extract exposed secrets from log

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V13 - Configuration Permission assignment review
Exploitation Conditions

Requires a local account of any privilege level on an affected SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1, SLES for NVIDIA 16.1, openSUSE Leap 16.1, or Tumbleweed host (attack vector is local, not network). The specific prerequisite is that the sdbootutil script has been invoked such that it created the debug log /var/log/sdbootutil.log, and that this log actually contains secrets - the description notes the log is created 'on request', so exposure only occurs where debug logging has been run. The enabling defect is the world-readable file permission on that log. Limiting factors: no remote exploitation, the log must exist and hold sensitive data, and systems not using sdbootutil/systemd-boot are unaffected.

Impact

This is a genuine but modestly-scoped local information-disclosure issue (CWE-732, incorrect permission assignment), not a high-urgency remote threat. The SUSE-supplied CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H) and the 6.9 (Medium) score agree: exploitation is confined to the local system but yields High confidentiality impact because the sdbootutil debug log can contain secrets. No EPSS score, KEV listing, or POC was provided, and there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis - so exploitation is plausible-and-trivial-if-conditions-are-met but not currently observed. The main signals are internally consistent; the one point worth verifying is privileges: SUSE encoded PR:N (any actor, since the file is world-readable), yet realistically an attacker still needs a local account on the host, which in CVSS 3.1 terms is better modeled as PR:L. A second implicit limiter not captured in the base vector is that the log only exists 'on request' and only exposes secrets if debug logging was actually run and wrote sensitive data - so real-world exposure is situational rather than guaranteed. Net: a legitimate patch-worthy hardening bug for multi-user SUSE hosts, but low priority relative to network-exploitable or actively-exploited CVEs.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

On a multi-user SUSE/openSUSE host where an administrator has run sdbootutil with debug logging, any unprivileged local user simply reads the world-readable /var/log/sdbootutil.log and harvests whatever secrets it recorded (e.g. boot/credential material). No exploit code is required - standard file-read access is sufficient - and no public POC is needed given the trivial nature; no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 15, 2026

sdbootutil on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1, SLES for NVIDIA 16.1, openSUSE Leap 16.1, and Tumbleweed creates a world-readable debug log at /var/log/sdbootutil.log, enabling any local user to read potentially sensitive information from it. This local information disclosure (CWE-732) requires that the debug log has been generated and contains secrets. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and the issue is not known to be actively exploited.

RemediationAI

No vendor-released patch has been identified at time of analysis. As a compensating control, ensure that the debug log file /var/log/sdbootutil.log has restrictive permissions (e.g., chmod 600) and is owned by root; this can be enforced via a systemd tmpfiles.d rule or a file watcher that immediately corrects permissions after creation. Avoid running sdbootutil with debug logging enabled unless necessary, and delete the log file after troubleshooting. Consider setting a restrictive umask (e.g., umask 077) for processes invoking sdbootutil if the script respects it, though the script may override it. Monitor the SUSE security advisory for an official patch. Trade-offs: disabling debug logging may hinder troubleshooting; enforcing permissions may break workflows that expect the log to be readable, but such workflows are insecure. Restricting access to /var/log is not recommended. Apply vendor updates when available.

Affected VersionsENISA

Tumbleweed ? <278458aeb7d8f995c0e3dc9d19d2dcba50795a42
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for NVIDIA 16.1 ?
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 ?
openSUSE Leap 16.1 ?

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Technical ContextAI · show details

sdbootutil is a script used in SUSE distributions to manage systemd-boot configurations. The vulnerability stems from incorrect permission assignment (CWE-732) when creating a debug log file at /var/log/sdbootutil.log; the file is created world-readable, allowing any local user to read its contents. The log may contain secrets such as credentials or tokens if debug logging is enabled. Affected products include SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for NVIDIA 16.1, openSUSE Leap 16.1, and openSUSE Tumbleweed (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:suse:suse_linux_enterprise_server_16.1, cpe:2.3:a:suse:suse_linux_enterprise_server_for_nvidia_16.1, cpe:2.3:a:opensuse:opensuse_leap_16.1, cpe:2.3:a:opensuse:tumbleweed). The independent assessment rates this as CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N, indicating a local authenticated attacker with low privileges can achieve high confidentiality impact. Exploitation requires that the debug log exists and contains sensitive data, and the system uses sdbootutil.

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Severity by source

Vendor (suse) PRIMARY 6.9 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 5.5 MEDIUM

Local file read requires a valid local account (PR:L, AV:L), trivial once the log exists (AC:L); only secret disclosure applies, so C:H and I:A:N.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (suse).

CVSS VectorVendor: suse

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
None
Vulnerable system: Availability
None
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Patch available
Oct 15, 2026 - 10:16 EUVD
CVSS changed
Oct 15, 2026 - 09:22 NVD
6.2 (MEDIUM) 6.9 (MEDIUM)
CVE Published
Oct 15, 2026 - 08:41 cve.org
MEDIUM 6.9

DescriptionCVE.org

On request the sdbootutil script creates a world-readable debug log in /var/log/sdbootutil.log. The log file is created world-readable, however, which means that arbitrary low-privileged users in the system will be able to extract secrets from it.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 99% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
SUSE/openSUSE common in enterprise; sdbootutil only on systemd-boot configs
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium
Technical Impact
Partial

Priority Score

34
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

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