CVE-2026-53801
Description
A symlink race condition in rsync's sender directory scanning logic allows a local attacker to bypass intended access restrictions. By replacing a symlink with a directory entry pointing outside the module root during an active scan, the attacker can force rsync to enumerate and transfer unauthorized files, resulting in directory traversal and information disclosure.
Statement
A Moderate severity information disclosure vulnerability in rsync's sender-side directory scanning logic allows an attacker to read files outside the intended synchronization root. To exploit this flaw, the attacker must have write access to the rsync source directories in order to create or manipulate symlinks.
Mitigation
To mitigate this issue, ensure that rsync source directories have restricted write permissions. Untrusted users should not have the ability to create or manipulate symlinks within the paths scanned by rsync, whether operating in daemon mode or non-daemon sender-side scanning. Implementing strict access controls on these directories can prevent the preconditions necessary for exploitation.
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 | 5.9 | N/A | 5.9 |
| Attack Vector | Network | N/A | Network |
| Attack Complexity | High | N/A | High |
| Privileges Required | None | N/A | None |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | None |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
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