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.

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity High

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact None

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity High

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
RsyncProject rsync unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected ≤ 3.4.4
3.5.0 unaffected —

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Project Subscriptions

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Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-phxh-hjqv-39c9 cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-race-condition-via-acl-xattr-application cve-icon cve-icon
History

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Race Condition via ACL/xattr Application
Weaknesses CWE-367
CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.2, 'vector': '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'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-13T14:40:45.664Z

Reserved: 2026-06-10T20:14:32.828Z

Link: CVE-2026-53799

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-13T15:19:52.130

Modified: 2026-08-13T15:19:52.130

Link: CVE-2026-53799

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T17:00:04Z

Weaknesses