CVE-2026-53799rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Race Condition via ACL/xattr Application

Description

rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink race condition vulnerability that allows local attackers to cause rsync to apply arbitrary ACLs or extended attributes to unintended files by substituting a symlink at a predictable destination path between the file write and the subsequent acl_set_file() or lsetxattr() call. Attackers can exploit this timing window to redirect ACL and xattr application through a crafted symlink to files outside the intended destination tree, potentially granting elevated permissions and enabling local privilege escalation.

Data: CVE.org, NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS, Ubuntu. Published as the sources state it, in English.

Affected products and versions

References and patches

• GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-phxh-hjqv-39c9) vendor-advisoryVendor Advisory
• rsync 3.5.0 Release Notes release-notesProductRelease Notes
• https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-symlink-race-condition-via-acl-xattr-application third-party-advisoryRelease NotesThird Party Advisory