CVE-2026-53789 rsync < 3.5.0 Arbitrary File Deletion via Malicious File List
A malicious sender can delete files outside the authorized destination directory in rsync by exploiting improper path handling in file list processing.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-53789?
CVE-2026-53789 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in RsyncProject rsync, published on 13 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official 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.
Weakness: CWE-807
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53789?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Samba Rsync.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53789?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-53789 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53789 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in RsyncProject rsync
- CVE-2017-15994 Security feature bypass in n/a
- CVE-2026-53791 rsync < 3.5.0 Daemon IP Spoofing via PROXY Protocol Header
- CVE-2026-70461 rsync 3.2.5 < 3.5.0 Heap Out-of-Bounds Write via files-from Entry
- CVE-2026-70455 rsync 3.4.2 < 3.5.0 DoS via --zt Zstandard Compression Thread Exhaustion
- CVE-2026-70463 rsync 3.1.0 < 3.5.0 Authorization Bypass via auth users Directive Parsing
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-53789, AZL-95762, BELL-CVE-2026-53789, CLSA-2026-1788520884, CLSA-2026-1788531150, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53789 and 3 more.