CVE-2026-124744
Description
A flaw was found in BusyBox. When extracting files using the cpio utility with path traversal protection enabled, hardlink target paths are not properly sanitized. By tricking a user or automated process into extracting a crafted archive, an attacker can create hardlinks that point to files outside the intended extraction directory. This issue may allow an attacker to modify or overwrite arbitrary files outside the target directory during subsequent extraction operations.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as Moderate severity because exploitation requires an attacker to induce a user or automated workflow into unpacking a maliciously crafted archive. In Red Hat Enterprise Linux, BusyBox is not used as the standard user-space archive extractor, limiting exposure to specialized environments such as rescue tools or recovery images. Additionally, successful impact relies on linking external target files into the destination path followed by a separate overwriting operation, constraining practical exploitability in default deployments.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.3 | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | High | N/A | N/A |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | N/A |
| User Interaction | Required | N/A | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | N/A |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | N/A |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality,Integrity,Access Control
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories; Modify Files or Directories; Bypass Protection Mechanism
An attacker may be able to traverse the file system to unintended locations and read or overwrite the contents of unexpected files. If the files are used for a security mechanism then an attacker may be able to bypass the mechanism.
Other
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Windows simple shortcuts, sometimes referred to as soft links, can be exploited remotely since a ".LNK" file can be uploaded like a normal file. This can enable remote execution.
Acknowledgements
Red Hat would like to thank ducanhluu for reporting this issue.
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