CVE-2026-53789

rsync < 3.5.0 Arbitrary File Deletion via Malicious File List

State
Published
Severity
7.1 High
Published
Aug 13, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Reserved
Jun 10, 2026

Read the record on cve.org

Description

rsync before 3.5.0 contains an improper path handling vulnerability that allows a malicious sender to expand the scope of --delete operations beyond the intended destination subtree by sending a crafted file list that causes rsync to reclassify implied parent directory entries or treat synthetic paths as the transfer root. Attackers can exploit multiple variants including implied parent reclassification, synthetic root path construction, legacy protocol behavior below version 30, and non-directory root handling to cause the receiver to delete files outside the authorized destination directory.

Scores

CVSSScoreVectorSource
4.07.1 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NVulnCheck
3.16.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HVulnCheck

Weaknesses

  • CWE-807 Reliance on Untrusted Inputs in a Security Decision

Affected Products

ProductVersions
rsyncRsyncProject
  • 3.4.4 and earlierAffected
  • 3.5.0Not affected

References

Every record here comes from the CVE Program’s CVE List. © 1999–2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. The records are reproduced under the CVE Program terms of use.