CVE-2026-54552
HIGHDescription
sh provides Python process launching. Prior to 2.2.4, the _uid option in sh.py performs an incomplete privilege drop on Linux and Unix-like systems. When sh runs from an elevated process and launches a command with _uid set to an unprivileged user, the child changes its UID but can retain the parent process's supplementary groups because the privilege-drop sequence does not fully establish the target user's UID, primary GID, and supplementary groups. The child can therefore retain access to files or resources granted to privileged groups such as root, docker, disk, shadow, or sudo, violating the expected _uid privilege boundary. This issue is fixed in version 2.2.4.
How to fix
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Exploit Intelligence
Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 6% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-273 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2011-2921 | Critical | 9.8 | 83% | - | - |
| CVE-2024-38813 | High | 7.5 | 17% | KEV | Fix |
| CVE-2017-6972 | Critical | 9.8 | 15% | - | - |
| CVE-2015-0278 | High | 10.0 | 3.2% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2019-18276 | High | 7.8 | 2.6% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2021-36372 | Critical | 9.8 | 2.5% | - | Fix |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2026-54552?
Upgrade python-sh on debian unstable to 2.4.0-1 or later.
Is CVE-2026-54552 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2026-54552 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.17% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 6% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2026-54552?
CVE-2026-54552 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.9, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2026-54552 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for python-sh (Debian). Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-09-18.