Description
The recursive mode (-R) of the chmod utility in uutils coreutils incorrectly handles exit codes when processing multiple files. The final return value is determined solely by the success or failure of the last file processed. This allows the command to return an exit code of 0 (success) even if errors were encountered on previous files, such as 'Operation not permitted'. Scripts relying on these exit codes may proceed under a false sense of success while sensitive files remain with restrictive or incorrect permissions.
Published: 2026-04-22
Score: 5.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Inaccurate exit codes can mask permission errors when chmod is run in recursive mode.
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-vp6q-mv9j-j428 uutils coreutils incorrectly handles exit codes when processing multiple files
History

Mon, 04 May 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:uutils:coreutils:*:*:*:*:*:rust:*:*

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Uutils
Uutils coreutils
Vendors & Products Uutils
Uutils coreutils

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description The recursive mode (-R) of the chmod utility in uutils coreutils incorrectly handles exit codes when processing multiple files. The final return value is determined solely by the success or failure of the last file processed. This allows the command to return an exit code of 0 (success) even if errors were encountered on previous files, such as 'Operation not permitted'. Scripts relying on these exit codes may proceed under a false sense of success while sensitive files remain with restrictive or incorrect permissions.
Title uutils coreutils chmod False Success Exit Code in Recursive Mode
Weaknesses CWE-253
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}


Subscriptions

Uutils Coreutils
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: canonical

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-22T18:13:40.854Z

Reserved: 2026-04-02T12:58:56.086Z

Link: CVE-2026-35339

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-22T18:13:33.839Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-04-22T17:16:35.767

Modified: 2026-05-04T20:14:43.883

Link: CVE-2026-35339

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-27T19:54:49Z

Weaknesses