CVE-2026-88834
Description
A flaw was found in BusyBox's httpd web server. When configured with system password authentication, a user existence oracle may exist in certain build configurations. An attacker could distinguish existing from non-existing usernames by observing authentication failure behavior. Impact is limited to username enumeration and requires non-default compile options or uncommon password file states; default BusyBox builds with shadow password support are not affected.
Statement
This flaw requires BusyBox httpd configured for system-password wildcard authentication, which is uncommon on Fedora and standard RHEL deployments. With default FEATURE_SHADOWPASSWDS enabled, failed shadow lookup does not reach password verification and the oracle described for non-default builds does not apply. Red Hat Hardened Images and other products shipping BusyBox should be evaluated per build configuration.
Mitigation
Prefer explicit username:password entries in httpd.conf instead of /:*:* system-password wildcards. Use PAM-based authentication where available. Ensure BusyBox is built with FEATURE_SHADOWPASSWDS enabled (default).
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 3.7 | N/A | 3.7 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | N/A | High |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | Low | N/A | Low |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | None |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
Lowered after dispute verification (2026-10-13): oracle limited to non-default FEATURE_SHADOWPASSWDS-off builds or rare passwd placeholders; default shadow builds yield clean 401 for both cases.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Access Control
Technical Impact: Read Application Data; Bypass Protection Mechanism
An attacker can gain access to sensitive information about the system, including authentication information that may allow an attacker to gain access to the system. Other security-relevant information about the operation or internal state of the product may be revealed to an unauthorized actor, such as whether a particular operation was successful or not.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Application Data
In some cases, discrepancies can be used by attackers to form a side channel. When cryptographic primitives are vulnerable to side-channel attacks, this could be used to reveal unencrypted plaintext in the worst case.
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank Shubham Raj (Causal Security) for reporting this issue.
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