High severity · published Aug 13, 2026
CVE-2026-53803
rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Following Arbitrary File Overwrite
7.8
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink following vulnerability that allows local attackers to overwrite arbitrary files by placing a symlink at a predictable output path such as --log-file, --write-batch, or daemon-mode log and statistics paths. Attackers can exploit rsync's failure to reject symlinks during ancillary file writes to redirect output to arbitrary filesystem locations, achieving local privilege escalation on installations where rsync runs with elevated privileges such as setuid or privileged daemon configurations.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 14% 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-2026-53803
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53803
Product
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0
Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-g9f4-7q66-9582
Release Notes
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-following-arbitrary-file-overwrite
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8.2
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8.2
CVE-2026-70457
rsync 3.2.3 < 3.5.0 Out-of-Bounds Write via parse_size_arg()
8.2
CVE-2026-70458
rsync 3.0.0 < 3.5.0 Out-of-Bounds Write via FLAG_HLINKED Handling
8.2
CVE-2026-70461
rsync 3.2.5 < 3.5.0 Heap Out-of-Bounds Write via files-from Entry
