CVE-2026-48749Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary host file access via duplicate rootfs symlink

Published Aug 21, 2026 · Updated Aug 21, 2026

Path control in Linux Containers Incus before 7.2.0 allows remote authenticated users to read and write arbitrary host files. Incus validates an initial rootfs directory but later extracts a duplicate rootfs symlink, causing d.RootfsPath() and forkfile to operate on the host root. Exploitation requires image-import, instance-creation, and stopped-instance file permissions; remote access also requires an exposed API.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability0.81%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path control in Linux Containers Incus before 7.2.0 allows remote authenticated users to read and write arbitrary host files. Incus validates an initial rootfs directory but later extracts a duplicate rootfs symlink, causing d.RootfsPath() and forkfile to operate on the host root. Exploitation requires image-import, instance-creation, and stopped-instance file permissions; remote access also requires an exposed API.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-48749
Published
Aug 21, 2026
Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Vendor
Linux Containers
Product
Incus
Classifications
CWE-73, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 21, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 7.2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Linux Containers · Incusversion=< 7.2.0

Published CVSS scores

9.9GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-73External Control of File Name or Path
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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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