CVE-2026-53802 rsync < 3.5.0 Arbitrary File Read via Symlink Following

What is CVE-2026-53802?

CVE-2026-53802 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in RsyncProject rsync, published on 13 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

rsync before 3.5.0 contains an arbitrary file read vulnerability that allows attackers to read files accessible to the rsync daemon process by exploiting symlink following in input configuration file handling including --files-from, --password-file, and filter merge files. Attackers can place a symlink at a predictable --files-from or --password-file path, or supply a --files-from path that escapes the daemon module root, to read arbitrary files accessible to the rsync process.

Weakness: CWE-61

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53802?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Samba Rsync.

How do I fix CVE-2026-53802?

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-2026-53802 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53802 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in RsyncProject rsync

• CVE-2017-15994 Security feature bypass in n/a Critical 9.8
• CVE-2026-53791 rsync < 3.5.0 Daemon IP Spoofing via PROXY Protocol Header Critical 9.1
• CVE-2026-70461 rsync 3.2.5 < 3.5.0 Heap Out-of-Bounds Write via files-from Entry High 8.8
• CVE-2026-70455 rsync 3.4.2 < 3.5.0 DoS via --zt Zstandard Compression Thread Exhaustion High 8.7
• CVE-2026-70463 rsync 3.1.0 < 3.5.0 Authorization Bypass via auth users Directive Parsing High 8.6

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-53802, AZL-95810, BELL-CVE-2026-53802, CLSA-2026-1791385638, CLSA-2026-1791386039, CLSA-2026-1791386404 and 5 more.