CVE-2026-53784
Received Received - Intake

Path Traversal in rsync Before 3.5.0

Publication date: 2026-08-13

Last updated on: 2026-08-13

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows remote clients to access files outside the intended module root when use chroot is disabled and the module root path or a component of it is a symlink. The daemon calls chdir() to the module root at session initialization without resolving symlinks via realpath() or equivalent, causing subsequent relative-path operations to reference files relative to the symlink target rather than the intended module root, enabling unauthorized file access.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-13
Last Modified
2026-08-13
Generated
2026-08-13
AI Q&A
2026-08-13
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-53784
EUVD
EUVD-2026-58091

Affected Vendors & Products

Currently, no data is known.

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Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-59 The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability affects rsync versions before 3.5.0. It allows remote clients to access files outside the intended module root directory when the use chroot feature is disabled and the module root path or a component of it is a symbolic link. The daemon changes to the module root directory during session initialization without resolving symbolic links, causing subsequent operations to reference files relative to the symlink target instead of the intended module root.

Detection Guidance

Check rsync version with 'rsync --version'. If it is below 3.5.0, the system is vulnerable. Inspect rsync daemon configuration for 'use chroot = no' and symlink paths in module roots.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to access sensitive files outside the intended directory, potentially leading to unauthorized data exposure or modification. This could include confidential documents, configuration files, or other restricted data depending on the rsync server's configuration.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, violating compliance requirements for data protection such as GDPR or HIPAA. Unauthorized access may result in data breaches, triggering legal penalties, fines, or reputational damage for organizations handling protected information.

Mitigation Strategies

Upgrade rsync to version 3.5.0 or later. If upgrading is not possible, enable 'use chroot = yes' in the rsync daemon configuration to restrict access to the module root directory.

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