Arbitrary file overwrite via symlink path race
Published Apr 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 22, 2026
TOCTOU in the install utility in uutils coreutils before 0.7.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files through install -D. The -D path creates parent directories by pathname, then resolves the destination again for File::create or fs::copy without anchoring either operation to a directory file descriptor. Exploitation requires concurrent write access to a destination-tree component and a privileged install invocation, enabling attacker-controlled content to replace files outside that tree.
Summary
What happened
TOCTOU in the install utility in uutils coreutils before 0.7.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files through install -D. The -D path creates parent directories by pathname, then resolves the destination again for File::create or fs::copy without anchoring either operation to a directory file descriptor. Exploitation requires concurrent write access to a destination-tree component and a privileged install invocation, enabling attacker-controlled content to replace files outside that tree.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-35356
- Published
- Apr 22, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 22, 2026
- Vendor
- uutils
- Product
- coreutils
- Classifications
- CWE-59, CWE-367, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 22, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <0.7.0
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
- install -D symlink-race regression scenarioproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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