Host-root file write via migration-stream symlink
Published Sep 28, 2026 · Updated Sep 28, 2026
Improper link resolution in Canonical LXD 4.0 and later allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary host files as root via migration. During instance or custom-volume reception, rsync or btrfs receive follows a symlink planted in the incoming stream, letting later entries escape the volume and overwrite host paths. A project user needs instance or custom-volume creation rights, or the target must migrate from a malicious source server; optimized ZFS transfers are unaffected.
Summary
What happened
Improper link resolution in Canonical LXD 4.0 and later allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary host files as root via migration. During instance or custom-volume reception, rsync or btrfs receive follows a symlink planted in the incoming stream, letting later entries escape the volume and overwrite host paths. A project user needs instance or custom-volume creation rights, or the target must migrate from a malicious source server; optimized ZFS transfers are unaffected.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-87799
- Published
- Sep 28, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 28, 2026
- Vendor
- Canonical Ltd.
- Product
- LXD
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 28, 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=4.0.0 <4.0.14
- Affected versionversion=5.0.0 <5.0.10
- Affected versionversion=5.21.0 <5.21.8
- Affected versionversion=6.0 <6.10
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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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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