CVE-2026-53802

Arbitrary file read via symlinked input paths

Published Aug 13, 2026 · Updated Aug 13, 2026

Symlink following in Rsync Project rsync 3.4.4 and earlier allows local users to read files accessible to a privileged rsync process. Operator-supplied filter, files-from, include, exclude, password, and daemon secrets paths are opened without confining symlink resolution; daemon files-from paths can also escape the served module root. An attacker must control a path component or receiver-owned symlink; successful reads disclose file contents or silently alter transfer selection.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in Rsync Project rsync 3.4.4 and earlier allows local users to read files accessible to a privileged rsync process. Operator-supplied filter, files-from, include, exclude, password, and daemon secrets paths are opened without confining symlink resolution; daemon files-from paths can also escape the served module root. An attacker must control a path component or receiver-owned symlink; successful reads disclose file contents or silently alter transfer selection.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53802
Published
Aug 13, 2026
Updated
Aug 13, 2026
Vendor
Rsync Project
Product
rsync
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-61, CAPEC-27, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 13, 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=0 <=3.4.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Rsync Project · rsyncversion=0 <=3.4.4

Published CVSS scores

7.1Rsync ProjectCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
8.4VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
CAPEC-27Leveraging Race Conditions via Symbolic Links
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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