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Vulnerability record · CVE-2026-53803 · published 13 August 2026

CVE-2026-53803: Samba rsync link following vulnerability

Samba · Rsync

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.

8.5 CVSS 4.0 High EPSS 0.21% · top 89.8% CWE-59 · Link following
8.5CVSS 4.0 base score
0.21%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
3References
31 Aug 2026Last modified by NVD

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:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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:

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0 ProductRelease Notes
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-g9f4-7q66-9582 Vendor Advisory
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-following-arbitrary-file-overwrite Release NotesThird Party Advisory

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Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2026-53803), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.