# 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.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 13 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-63293, GHSA-j825-cg34-5fr5, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-63293

## 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 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-63293?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Canonical Lxd.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-63293?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## 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](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-66897/): Instance template path traversal allows arbitrary host file write as root (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-62420](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-62420/): Cross-project cluster migration bypasses project restrictions via cluster notification flag (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-63294](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63294/): Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-63296](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63296/): Project restriction bypass via instance migration config override (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2026-63297](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63297/): Cross-project instance copy bypasses target project restrictions via TOCTOU in config merge (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-63293 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-63293 exists.

Affected product: Canonical LXD. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2026-63293/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63293/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-63293
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-63293
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-63293

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63293/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.