Protected file deletion via symlink replacement race
Published Jan 20, 2022 · Updated Apr 22, 2025
TOCTOU race in Rust 1.0.0 through 1.58.0 allows local users to delete protected files via std::fs::remove_dir_all. The function checks whether a directory entry is a symbolic link before deletion, allowing replacement with a symlink between the check and recursive removal. Exploitation requires a privileged program to remove an attacker-controlled directory; successful racing redirects deletion to files outside that directory.
Summary
What happened
TOCTOU race in Rust 1.0.0 through 1.58.0 allows local users to delete protected files via std::fs::remove_dir_all. The function checks whether a directory entry is a symbolic link before deletion, allowing replacement with a symlink between the check and recursive removal. Exploitation requires a privileged program to remove an attacker-controlled directory; successful racing redirects deletion to files outside that directory.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-21658
- Published
- Jan 20, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 22, 2025
- Vendor
- Rust Project
- Product
- Rust
- Classifications
- CWE-363, CWE-367, T1485
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 20, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=< 1.58.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Upstream remove_dir_all race demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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