CVE-2026-23741

ast_coredumper running as root sources ast_debug_tools.conf from /etc/asterisk; potentially leading to privilege escalation

HIGH

8.8

CVSS Score

Published: February 6, 2026 at 04:47 PM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 10:22 AM UTC

3 products affected across 2 vendorsAsteriskCertified AsteriskAsterisk

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Severity

HIGH8.8

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.2%

SSVC

No known exploit

Description

Asterisk is an open source private branch exchange and telephony toolkit. Prior to versions 20.7-cert9, 20.18.2, 21.12.1, 22.8.2, and 23.2.2, the asterisk/contrib/scripts/ast_coredumper runs as root, as noted by the NOTES tag on line 689 of the ast_coredumper file. The script will source the contents of /etc/asterisk/ast_debug_tools.conf, which resides in a folder that is writeable by the asterisk user:group. Due to the /etc/asterisk/ast_debug_tools.conf file following bash semantics and it being loaded; an attacker with write permissions may add or modify the file such that when the root ast_coredumper is run; it would source and thereby execute arbitrary bash code found in the /etc/asterisk/ast_debug_tools.conf. This issue has been patched in versions 20.7-cert9, 20.18.2, 21.12.1, 22.8.2, and 23.2.2.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Asterisk · Sangoma

95%

v < 20.18.221.0.0 ≤ v < 21.12.122.0.0 ≤ v < 22.8.223.0.0 ≤ v < 23.2.2

Certified Asterisk · Sangoma

95%

v ≤ 18.920.7 cert1 20.7 cert1-rc1 20.7 cert1-rc2 20.7 cert2 20.7 cert3 20.7 cert4 20.7 cert5 20.7 cert6 20.7 cert7 20.7 cert8

Asterisk · Asterisk

60%

v < 20.18.2v < 20.7-cert9v < 21.12.1v < 22.8.2v < 23.2.2

Affected range stops below 20.18.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 20.7-cert9, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 21.12.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 22.8.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 23.2.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

https://github.com/asterisk/asterisk/security/advisories/GHSA-rvch-3jmx-3jf3

References (1)

x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory

Source: cverecord

https://github.com/asterisk/asterisk/security/advisories/GHSA-rvch-3jmx-3jf3

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

8.8HIGH[email protected]

Attack Vector: NETWORK
Complexity: LOW
Privileges: LOW
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality: HIGH
Integrity: HIGH
Availability: HIGH

Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED

CWE

CWE-427

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