Medium severity · published Aug 13, 2026
CVE-2026-53800
rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Race Condition via --remove-source-files
4.7
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink race condition vulnerability in the --remove-source-files feature that allows attackers with symlink creation access to cause arbitrary file deletion. Attackers can atomically substitute a symlink for a source file between transfer completion and the unlink() call, causing rsync to delete the symlink target rather than the intended source file.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 3% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
RS
rsync · RsyncProject
through 3.4.4 · source: vendor, NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53800
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53800
Product
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0
Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-v3vw-pvpg-chwh
Release Notes
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-race-condition-via-remove-source-files
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