CVE-2026-53802: rsyncproject rsync UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2026-53802 is a high (CVSS 8.4) UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in rsyncproject rsync. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 13.8% of scored vulnerabilities.
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 12 · Related 8Timeline
- 13-08-2026PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 14-08-2026Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains an arbitrary file read vulnerability that allows attackers to read files accessible to the rsync daemon process by exploiting symlink following in input configuration file handling including --files-from, --password-file, and filter merge files. Attackers can place a symlink at a predictable --files-from or --password-file path, or supply a --files-from path that escapes the daemon module root, to read arbitrary files accessible to the rsync process.
CVSS metrics
8 scores · 5 sources · 2 versions- OSV · AlpineEcosystem advisory · calculated8.4HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated8.4HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated8.4HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
- NVDNIST8.4HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- NVDNIST7.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
EPSS trend
Probability
0.24%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
14%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 0.24% on 19-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Alpine1 product
- rsync< 3.5.0-r0
Debian1 product
- rsyncAll versions (No fix recorded) | < 3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1 | < 3.5.0+ds1-1
Rsyncproject1 product
- rsync≤ 3.4.4
Samba1 product
- rsync< 3.5.0
Ubuntu1 product
- rsyncAll versions (No fix recorded)
5 vendors · 5 products
References
9 links- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-arbitrary-file-read-via-symlink-followingThird Party AdvisoryRelease Notes
