Potential snap-confine Privilege Escalation via CVE-2026-3888
This rule detects non-root file creation within "/tmp/.snap" or its host backing path "/tmp/snap-private-tmp/*/tmp/.snap", which may indicate exploitation attempts related to CVE-2026-3888. In vulnerable Ubuntu…
Description
This rule detects non-root file creation within "/tmp/.snap" or its host backing path "/tmp/snap-private-tmp/*/tmp/.snap", which may indicate exploitation attempts related to CVE-2026-3888. In vulnerable Ubuntu systems, the snap-confine utility normally creates the "/tmp/.snap" directory as root when initializing a snap sandbox. The vulnerability arises when systemd-tmpfiles deletes this directory after it becomes stale, allowing an unprivileged user to recreate it and populate attacker-controlled files. During subsequent snap sandbox initialization, snap-confine may bind-mount or trust these attacker-controlled paths, enabling manipulation of libraries or configuration files that can lead to local privilege escalation to root. Because legitimate creation of ".snap" directories should only be performed by root, non-root file activity in these locations is highly suspicious. This detection helps identify early stages of the exploit before privilege escalation is completed.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2026/03/17/cve-2026-3888-important-snap-flaw-enables-local-privilege-escalation-to-root | Only this detection cites it |
| cdn2.qualys.com/advisory/2026/03/17/snap-confine-systemd-tmpfiles.txt | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 44cb1d8a-1922-4fc0-a00f-36c1caf57393
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Elastic DefendDomain: EndpointNoise: LowOS: LinuxPerformance: NormalPlatform: LinuxProfile: RecommendedResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)Tactic: Privilege EscalationThreat: Vulnerability ExploitUse Case: Threat DetectionUse Case: VulnerabilityVuln: CVE-2026-3888
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3