CVE-2026-63125Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Host root RCE via backup.yaml symlink following

Published Aug 21, 2026 · Updated Aug 21, 2026

Symlink following in Linux Containers Incus before 7.3.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code as host root via a crafted image. The image unpacker preserves an attacker-supplied backup.yaml symlink, and UpdateInstanceBackupFile opens that path without a no-follow check while the daemon runs as root. A project-confined TLS or RBAC identity with can_create_images and can_create_instances can overwrite an arbitrary host file and compromise the host and other tenants.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability0.42%
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 Linux Containers Incus before 7.3.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute code as host root via a crafted image. The image unpacker preserves an attacker-supplied backup.yaml symlink, and UpdateInstanceBackupFile opens that path without a no-follow check while the daemon runs as root. A project-confined TLS or RBAC identity with can_create_images and can_create_instances can overwrite an arbitrary host file and compromise the host and other tenants.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-63125
Published
Aug 21, 2026
Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Vendor
Linux Containers
Product
Incus
Classifications
CWE-61, CWE-59, 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=< 7.3.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Linux Containers · Incusversion=< 7.3.0

Published CVSS scores

9.9GitHub, Inc.CVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
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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