CVE-2026-16033 Arbitrary file read+write on host via templates/ symlink in malicious image
Attackers can read or write arbitrary host files via malicious image templates in LXD, compromising host integrity and confidentiality.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-16033?
CVE-2026-16033 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Canonical LXD, published on 12 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A path traversal vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary host file read or unconstrained file creation. When processing image metadata templates, LXD fails to properly sanitize or restrict template file paths from escaping the instance templates directory (specifically affecting virtual machine / QEMU driver execution paths). An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with malicious template directives containing path traversal sequences, causing LXD to access or write files outside the intended template directory on the host system.
Weakness: CWE-22
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-16033?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Canonical Lxd.
How do I fix CVE-2026-16033?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-16033 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-16033 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-16033 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in Canonical LXD
- CVE-2026-66897 Instance template path traversal allows arbitrary host file write as root
- CVE-2026-62420 Cross-project cluster migration bypasses project restrictions via cluster notification flag
- CVE-2026-63293 Arbitrary File Read/Write: metadata.yaml symlink in image allows host filesystem access as root
- CVE-2026-63294 Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink
- CVE-2026-63296 Project restriction bypass via instance migration config override
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-16033, GHSA-9hcm-hxh5-7xxh, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-16033.