Link following in Rsync - CVE-2026-53800
Published: August 13, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU142280
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 5.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-53800
CWE-ID: CWE-59
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a local user to cause a denial of service.
The vulnerability exists due to improper link resolution before file access in successful_send() when unlinking source files with --remove-source-files after a parent directory is raced from a real directory to a symlink outside the source tree. A local user can replace an attacker-controlled parent directory with a symlink to redirect the post-send unlink and cause a denial of service.
The issue is reachable when a higher-authority local sender operates on a tree containing an attacker-controlled component, and it may also be reachable through a daemon module if --remove-source-files is allowed.
Affected software
Rsync
How to mitigate CVE-2026-53800
Install security update from vendor's website.
Rsync - update to 3.5.0