Link following in Rsync - CVE-2026-53799

Vulnerability identifier: #VU142281

CSH Severity: Low

CVSS v4: 7.2 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2026-53799

CWE-ID: CWE-59

Exploitation vector: Local access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges.

The vulnerability exists due to improper link resolution before file access in the receiver ACL/xattr metadata apply logic when preserving metadata and applying received ACLs or xattrs by path. A local user can race a path component into a symlink to cause rsync to apply attacker-controlled ACL data to a victim inode outside the destination tree to escalate privileges.

A local user who controls a path component can exploit the issue after the receiver creates the entry but before the metadata apply. A raced FIFO could also block the metadata apply.

Rsync
Debian Linux
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing LTSS 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing ESPOS 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro for Rancher
Basesystem Module
openSUSE Leap
openEuler
Fedora
rsync-debugsource
rsync-debuginfo
rsync
rsync-help
rsync (Debian package)

Install security update from vendor's website.

Rsync - update to 3.5.0
rsync-debugsource - addressed in versions 3.2.3-150400.3.34.1, 3.2.7-150600.3.24.1
rsync-debuginfo - addressed in versions 3.2.3-150400.3.34.1, 3.2.7-150600.3.24.1
rsync - addressed in versions 3.2.3-150400.3.34.1, 3.2.7-150600.3.24.1
rsync-debugsource - update to 3.2.7-12
rsync-help - update to 3.2.7-12
rsync-debuginfo - update to 3.2.7-12
rsync - update to 3.2.7-12
rsync (Debian package) - update to 3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1
rsync - addressed in versions 3.5.0-1.fc43, 3.5.0-1.fc44

• https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-phxh-hjqv-39c9

• Multiple vulnerabilities in Rsync
• SUSE update for rsync
• Fedora 44 update for rsync
• Fedora 43 update for rsync
• SUSE update for rsync
• openEuler 24.03 LTS SP3 update for rsync
• openEuler 24.03 LTS SP1 update for rsync
• openEuler 24.03 LTS SP4 update for rsync
• Debian update for rsync