Critical Copy Fail Linux Flaw Lets Hackers Gain Root Access Across Major Distros

It's not often that a major vulnerability is found in the Linux kernel, but when it does happen, it demands attention. Such is the case with "Copy Fail", which has just been found and disclosed by researchers at Xint Code. The good news is that the attack currently a proof of concept that has yet to be seen in the wild, and patches for major Linux distributions are already in the works. The bad news is that the Copy Fail exploit only requires only a tiny 732-byte Python script, and highlights a vulnerability in "every Linux distribution shipped since 2017" that allows attackers to gain root access, making it possible to fully hijack a Linux system in seconds.

According to the official CVE record, Copy Fail is rated at a 7.8 score for High severity. Based on the official documentation, it's easy to see why, since its ...