A flaw was found in libvirt. A local attacker, specifically a process running as the confined `swtpm` user, could exploit a symlink-following vulnerability in the `virFileChownFiles()` function. By planting a symbolic link within the `swtpm` state directory, the attacker could trick the root-level libvirt daemon into changing the ownership of an arbitrary file to the `swtpm` user. This allows for privilege escalation from the `swtpm` sandbox to root-level file ownership control.

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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

If virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) functionality is not required, remove the <tpm> device definition from the domain XML configuration to prevent the vulnerable code path from being reached. To check if a domain uses vTPM: ``` virsh dumpxml <domain> | grep -A5 '<tpm' ``` To remove it, edit the domain XML and delete the <tpm> block. This prevents libvirt from spawning swtpm processes and from calling virFileChownFiles() on the swtpm state directory during domain startup. Domains that require vTPM for guest OS functionality cannot use this mitigation and should prioritize applying the upstream fix.

History

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in libvirt. A local attacker, specifically a process running as the confined `swtpm` user, could exploit a symlink-following vulnerability in the `virFileChownFiles()` function. By planting a symbolic link within the `swtpm` state directory, the attacker could trick the root-level libvirt daemon into changing the ownership of an arbitrary file to the `swtpm` user. This allows for privilege escalation from the `swtpm` sandbox to root-level file ownership control.
Title Libvirt: swtpm privilege escalation via symlink following
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat enterprise Linux Nvidia
Weaknesses CWE-59
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux_nvidia:
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat enterprise Linux Nvidia
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-10T20:45:24.761Z

Reserved: 2026-07-17T13:06:13.759Z

Link: CVE-2026-63622

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

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Weaknesses