Critical severity · published Aug 24, 2026
CVE-2026-66897
Instance template path traversal allows arbitrary host file write as root
9.9
CVSS
0.7%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
A path traversal vulnerability in LXD's instance template processing allows an attacker with container edit permissions, or any user launching a crafted image, to overwrite arbitrary files on the host system as root. When processing target template paths specified in metadata.yaml, LXD validates the path against a confined os.Root directory handle but subsequently opens and creates the file using os.Create with an unconfined string path. This discrepancy between path resolution checks and file creation allows an attacker to escape directory confinement, overwrite root-owned host files, and achieve host root code execution.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.7% · higher than 54% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
LX
LXD · Canonical
4.0.0 before 4.0.13; 5.0.0 before 5.0.9; 5.21.0 before 5.21.7; 6.0 before 6.10 · source: vendor, NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-66897
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-66897
Vendor Advisory
https://github.com/canonical/lxd/security/advisories/GHSA-q39m-8fx9-42fv
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