CVE catalog
CVE-2026-53803
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-bat
- Severity
- High · CVSS 8.5
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Published
- Source
- [NVD] · [CVE record]
- EPSS
- 0.23% · Oct 23, 2026
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.
Vulnerable and fixed packages
Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.
| Distribution | Package | Release | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | rsync | sid | 3.5.1+ds1-2 | fixed |
| Debian | rsync | forky | 3.5.1+ds1-2 | fixed |
| Debian | rsync | trixie | 3.4.1+ds1-5+deb13u4 | vulnerable |
| Debian | rsync | trixie-security | 3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1 | fixed |
| Debian | rsync | bookworm | 3.2.7-1+deb12u6 | vulnerable |
| Debian | rsync | bookworm-security | 3.2.7-1+deb12u5 | vulnerable |
| Cpe | rsync | Not reported | 3.5.0 | fixed |
| Alpine | rsync | 3.21 | 3.5.0-r0 | fixed |
| Alpine | rsync | 3.22 | 3.5.0-r0 | fixed |
| Alpine | rsync | 3.23 | 3.5.0-r0 | fixed |
| Alpine | rsync | 3.24 | 3.5.0-r0 | fixed |
Fixed-version evidence
| Distribution | Package | Type | Release | Fixed version | Urgency | Origin | Bugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | rsync | source | sid | 3.5.0+ds1-1 | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | rsync | source | forky | 3.5.0+ds1-1 | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | rsync | source | trixie | 3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1 | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | rsync | source | bookworm | (unfixed) | not yet assigned | Not reported | Not reported |
| Cpe | rsync | cpe | Not reported | 3.5.0 | Not reported | NVD-CVE-2026-53803 | Not reported |
| Alpine | rsync | apk | 3.21 | 3.5.0-r0 | Not reported | ALPINE-CVE-2026-53803 | Not reported |
| Alpine | rsync | apk | 3.22 | 3.5.0-r0 | Not reported | ALPINE-CVE-2026-53803 | Not reported |
| Alpine | rsync | apk | 3.23 | 3.5.0-r0 | Not reported | ALPINE-CVE-2026-53803 | Not reported |
| Alpine | rsync | apk | 3.24 | 3.5.0-r0 | Not reported | ALPINE-CVE-2026-53803 | Not reported |
OpenFactory catalog packages
[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]
- [rsync]Affected
Details (4)
3.2.7-1+deb12u6· amd64 · bookwormAffected
nvd · rsync · debian · bookworm; nvd · rsync · debian · 12
3.2.7-1+deb12u6· arm64 · bookwormAffected
nvd · rsync · debian · bookworm; nvd · rsync · debian · 12
3.2.7-1+deb12u5· amd64 · bookworm-securityAffected
nvd · rsync · debian · bookworm; nvd · rsync · debian · 12
3.2.7-1+deb12u5· arm64 · bookworm-securityAffected
nvd · rsync · debian · bookworm; nvd · rsync · debian · 12
[Debian 13 (Trixie)]
- [rsync]Affected
Details (5)
3.4.1+ds1-5+deb13u4· amd64 · trixieAffected · Fixed:
3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1nvd · rsync · debian · 13
3.4.1+ds1-5+deb13u4· arm64 · trixieAffected · Fixed:
3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1nvd · rsync · debian · 13
3.4.1+ds1-5+deb13u3· amd64 · trixie-security · Historical versionAffected · Fixed:
3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1nvd · rsync · debian · 13
3.4.1+ds1-5+deb13u3· arm64 · trixie-securityAffected · Fixed:
3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1nvd · rsync · debian · 13
3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1· amd64 · trixie-securityFixed · Fixed:
3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1nvd · rsync · debian · 13
Observed:
References
- [https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:67462]
- [https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/]
- [https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0]
- [https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-g9f4-7q66-9582]
- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53803]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/ALPINE-CVE-2026-53803]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53803]
- [https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-53803]
- [https://wid.cert-bund.de/.well-known/csaf/white/2026/wid-sec-w-2026-2817.json]
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-following-arbitrary-file-overwrite]
[CERT-Bund public advisories] · [Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [National Vulnerability Database (NVD)] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX] · [SUSE security advisories and VEX]