CVE-2026-48752 Incus has arbitrary file read+write on host via templates/ symlink in malicious image

Critical 9.9 Published Updated

Attackers can read or write arbitrary host files via malicious images, potentially leading to code execution in Incus.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Any signed-in user
Attackable
Over the internet
Victim action needed
Not needed
Fix
Available

What is CVE-2026-48752?

CVE-2026-48752 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in lxc incus, published on 21 Aug 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, a specially crafted image or instance backup can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. Version 7.2.0 patches the issue.

Weakness: CWE-73

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-48752?

5 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/lxc/incus/v7/cmd/incusd, github.com/lxc/incus and github.com/lxc/incus/v6.

PackageAffectedFixed in
github.com/lxc/incus/v7/cmd/incusd GoAll versions7.2.0
github.com/lxc/incus/v7/cmd/incusd GoAll versions7.2.0
github.com/lxc/incus GoAll versionsNone
github.com/lxc/incus/v6 GoAll versionsNone
github.com/lxc/incus/v7 GoAll versions7.2.0

How do I fix CVE-2026-48752?

Upgrade github.com/lxc/incus/v7/cmd/incusd to 7.2.0 or later.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2026-48752 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-48752 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-48752, GHSA-vxp5-584q-c479, GO-2026-5803, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-48752.

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