CVE-2026-53799
rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Race Condition via ACL/xattr Application
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 7.2 High
- Published
- Aug 13, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 14, 2026
- Reserved
- Jun 10, 2026
Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink race condition vulnerability that allows local attackers to cause rsync to apply arbitrary ACLs or extended attributes to unintended files by substituting a symlink at a predictable destination path between the file write and the subsequent acl_set_file() or lsetxattr() call. Attackers can exploit this timing window to redirect ACL and xattr application through a crafted symlink to files outside the intended destination tree, potentially granting elevated permissions and enabling local privilege escalation.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 7.2 High | CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N | VulnCheck |
| 3.1 | 6.3 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N | VulnCheck |
Weaknesses
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
rsyncRsyncProject |
|
References
- GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-phxh-hjqv-39c9)vendor-advisory
- rsync 3.5.0 Release Notesrelease-notes
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-race-condition-via-acl-xattr-applicationthird-party-advisory
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