Technology

Password managers' promise that they can't see your vaults isn't always true

Source

Ars Technica

Published

Feb 17, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

Password managers, once seen as a secure way to store sensitive data, may not always live up to their "zero knowledge" encryption claims. Despite assurances from popular services like Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass, new research reveals vulnerabilities that could allow malicious insiders or hackers to access user data and vaults. These risks are particularly evident when account recovery features are in place or when sharing vaults among users. The study highlights the importance of understanding the limitations of password managers and the potential for encryption weaknesses that could compromise user data.

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Linux exploit instantly grants administrator access on most distributions since 2017 — cryptography optimization snafu grants root privileges to local users

A recent Linux exploit, CVE-2026-31431, allows local unprivileged users to gain root access instantly on most Linux distributions since 2017. The exploit affects popular distros like Ubuntu, RHEL, Suse, and Amazon Linux, as well as Windows' WSL2. The vulnerability, discovered by Xint Code researchers, involves a cryptography optimization flaw that grants administrator privileges through a devious attack on the AF_ALG socket. While a patch has been released, some distributions may still be vulnerable, requiring mitigation methods like disabling AF_ALG sockets. The exploit occurs in memory without leaving detectable traces on disk, making it challenging to detect with security software.

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IEEE Spectrum•