# CVE-2026-95521: RPM command injection in macro expansion of spec file basenames

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-95521-a-command-injection-flaw-was-found-in-rpm-installing-or  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-24. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-95521 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-09-24

RPM is the package manager used to install and build Linux software packages. A flaw allows arbitrary command execution when installing or rebuilding a source package (.src.rpm) with specially crafted filenames containing macro constructs. An attacker can execute shell commands with the privileges of the user installing the package, potentially compromising system integrity and data confidentiality.

Technologies: [RPM Project RPM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/rpm). Vendors: [RPM Project](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rpm-project).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-95521 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-95521 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-95521?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 24 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** RPM project RPM.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-95521?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-95521 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-95521?** Check whether you run RPM Project RPM. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a command injection flaw (CWE-78) in RPM's source file relocation logic, triggered when spec or source file basenames contain %() macro constructs. When processing untrusted source RPMs, the vulnerable code passes unsanitized filenames to popen(), allowing shell command execution. The flaw requires user interaction to install or rebuild a malicious .src.rpm and is not exposed as a network service.

## Affected products

- RPM project RPM

## Timeline

- 2026-09-24: disclosed

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/](https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-95521](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-95521)

## Related threats

- [RPM heap-based buffer overflow in RPMTAG_FILESIGNATURES parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-103242-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow-flaw-was-found-in-rpm-rpmtag)
- [RPM rpmuncompress command injection in doUntar](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44604-rpm-rpmuncompress-command-injection-in-dountar)