Arbitrary file creation via dangling symlink touch
Published Aug 7, 2026 · Updated Aug 7, 2026
Link following in File::Rotate::Simple before 0.4.0 allows local users to create arbitrary files through dangling symbolic links. The rotate method checks the symlink target for existence and, when the target is missing, skips rotation but touches the pathname, creating the target. Exploitation requires permission to place the symlink and the non-default touch option; the new file inherits the rotating process's permissions.
Summary
What happened
Link following in File::Rotate::Simple before 0.4.0 allows local users to create arbitrary files through dangling symbolic links. The rotate method checks the symlink target for existence and, when the target is missing, skips rotation but touches the pathname, creating the target. Exploitation requires permission to place the symlink and the non-default touch option; the new file inherits the rotating process's permissions.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-17435
- Published
- Aug 7, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 7, 2026
- Vendor
- Robert Rothenberg
- Product
- File::Rotate::Simple
- Classifications
- CWE-59
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 7, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 7, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <0.4.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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