rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink following vulnerability that allows local attackers to overwrite arbitrary files by placing a symlink at a predictable output path such as --log-file, --write-batch, or daemon-mode log and statistics paths. Attackers can exploit rsync's failure to reject symlinks during ancillary file writes to redirect output to arbitrary filesystem locations, achieving local privilege escalation on installations where rsync runs with elevated privileges such as setuid or privileged daemon configurations.
Fix
Patch, vendor advisory and mitigation references on NVD 1
Every line above is quoted from NVD, CISA, Microsoft, the vendor's own advisory or DISA; nothing is generated.
Change history 1
- First seenCVSS 8.5 · sambaNVD modified 2026-10-23 18:10
Affected (CPE criteria) 1
cpe:2.3:a:samba:rsync:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
References 3
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0 Product, Release Notes
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-g9f4-7q66-9582 Vendor Advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-following-arbitrary-file-overwrite Release Notes, Third Party Advisory