# CVE-2026-23954: Incus container image templating arbitrary host file read and write > Attackers with container launch privileges can exploit path traversal in image templating to read/write host files and execute arbitrary commands. - **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 22 Jan 2026 - **Updated:** 26 Jan 2026 - **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23954, GHSA-7f67-crqm-jgh7, GO-2026-4357, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23954 ## What is CVE-2026-23954? CVE-2026-23954 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in lxc incus, published on 22 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Versions 6.21.0 and below allow a user with the ability to launch a container with a custom image (e.g a member of the ‘incus’ group) to use directory traversal or symbolic links in the templating functionality to achieve host arbitrary file read, and host arbitrary file write. This ultimately results in arbitrary command execution on the host. When using an image with a metadata.yaml containing templates, both the source and target paths are not checked for symbolic links or directory traversal. This can also be exploited in IncusOS. A fix is planned for versions 6.0.6 and 6.21.0, but they have not been released at the time of publication. Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-23954? 4 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incusd, github.com/lxc/incus and github.com/lxc/incus/v6. It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incusd` | Go | All versions | None | | `github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incusd` | Go | All versions | None | | `github.com/lxc/incus` | Go | All versions | None | | `github.com/lxc/incus/v6` | Go | From 6.1.0 | None | Products: Linuxcontainers Incus. ## How do I fix CVE-2026-23954? Upgrade to a fixed version. ## Is CVE-2026-23954 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-23954 exists. ## Other vulnerabilities in lxc incus - [CVE-2026-33897](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33897/): Incus vulnerable to arbitrary file read and write through pongo templates (critical 10.0) - [CVE-2026-33945](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33945/): Abitrary file write through systemd-creds option (critical 10.0) - [CVE-2026-33898](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33898/): Local Incus UI web server vulnerable to nuthentication bypass (high 8.8) - [CVE-2026-23953](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23953/): Incus container environment configuration newline injection (high 8.7) - [CVE-2025-64507](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-64507/): Incus vulnerable to local privilege escalation through custom storage volumes (high 8.6) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2026-23954 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2026-23954 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in lxc incus, published on 22 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-23954 exists. Affected packages and fixed versions: - github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incusd (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed - github.com/lxc/incus/v6/cmd/incusd (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed - github.com/lxc/incus (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed - github.com/lxc/incus/v6 (Go): affected from 6.1.0; no fix listed Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23954/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23954/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23954 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23954 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-23954 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23954/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.