CVE-2026-53789
rsync before 3.5.0 contains an improper path handling vulnerability that allows a malicious sender to expand the scope of --delete operations beyond the intended destination subtree by sending a crafted file list that causes rsync to reclassify implied…
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.36%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains an improper path handling vulnerability that allows a malicious sender to expand the scope of --delete operations beyond the intended destination subtree by sending a crafted file list that causes rsync to reclassify implied parent directory entries or treat synthetic paths as the transfer root. Attackers can exploit multiple variants including implied parent reclassification, synthetic root path construction, legacy protocol behavior below version 30, and non-directory root handling to cause the receiver to delete files outside the authorized destination directory.
- CVSS 4.0
- 7.1 HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/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/M
- EPSS
- 0.36% probability · 29th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-807
- Affected
- samba/rsync
- Source
- disclosure@vulncheck.com
EPSS 0.4% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0Product, Release Notes
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-fxwg-7hmf-xh5qVendor Advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-arbitrary-file-deletion-via-malicious-file-listRelease Notes, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.