rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink following vulnerability that allows local attackers to overwrite arbitrary files
Affects rsyncSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.5 High · fixed in 3.5.0 : patch rsync soon.
Data as of 13 Nov 2026, 21:40 UTC
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 3.5.0
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 13 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 13 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSrsyncpkg:deb/ubuntu/rsync?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSrsyncpkg:deb/ubuntu/rsync?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSrsyncpkg:deb/ubuntu/rsync?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTSrsyncpkg:deb/ubuntu/rsync?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSrsyncpkg:deb/ubuntu/rsync?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTSrsyncpkg:deb/ubuntu/rsync?arch=source&distro=esm-infra-legacy/xenialOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available in rsync version 3.5.0 and later. Users should upgrade to version 3.5.0 or newer to remediate this vulnerability. No vendor advisory content was provided to indicate alternative mitigations or that no action is required.
Description
A symlink following vulnerability in rsync versions before 3.5.0 allows local attackers to overwrite arbitrary files by placing symlinks at predictable output paths such as --log-file, --write-batch, or daemon-mode log and statistics paths. This flaw can lead to local privilege escalation on systems where rsync runs with elevated privileges, including setuid or privileged daemon configurations.