CVE-2026-63293 Arbitrary File Read/Write: metadata.yaml symlink in image allows host filesystem access as root
Attackers can read or write arbitrary host files as root by exploiting symlink validation flaws in LXD image imports.
- 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-2026-63293?
CVE-2026-63293 is a critical 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 link following vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary file read and write operations on the host system. When importing or unpacking an image archive, LXD fails to validate whether the metadata.yaml file is a symbolic link. An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with a symlinked metadata.yaml file pointing to target file paths on the host system.
Weakness: CWE-59
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-63293?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Canonical Lxd.
How do I fix CVE-2026-63293?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-63293 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-63293 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-2026-63294 Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink
- CVE-2026-63296 Project restriction bypass via instance migration config override
- CVE-2026-63297 Cross-project instance copy bypasses target project restrictions via TOCTOU in config merge
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-63293, GHSA-j825-cg34-5fr5, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-63293.