High severity · published Sep 10, 2026
CVE-2026-88016
rclone: Directory metadata (chmod/chown/chtimes) applied through a planted symlink in rclone local --links escapes the destination
7.1
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. Prior to 1.75.1, when backend/local runs with --links, a source .rclonelink object can plant a symlink in the destination and later directory metadata is applied through that path. MkdirMetadata, writeMetadataToFile, and setTimes operate when Directory.translatedLink=false, so os.Chown, os.Chmod, os.Chtimes, and birth-time handling can bypass os.Root confinement and follow the symlink. An attacker controlling source contents can therefore apply selected ownership, permissions, modification times, or birth times to a file or directory outside the destination, with --metadata required for chmod and chown while modification time is applied by the normal directory workflow. This issue is fixed in version 1.75.1.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
High
Privileges
Low
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
High
Availability
Low
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 8% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
RC
rclone · rclone
< 1.75.1 · source: vendor, NVD
Affected product
RC
rclone
rclone
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