CVE-2026-91203 Cockpit-files: cockpit-files: arbitrary file ownership and permission modification via symlink race condition
Local attackers can exploit a symlink race condition in cockpit-files to modify ownership and permissions of arbitrary files, potentially compromising system integrity.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-91203?
CVE-2026-91203 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, published on 18 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
A flaw was found in cockpit-files. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to exploit a timing issue, known as a symlink race condition, during privileged file operations such as changing file ownership or permissions. By manipulating directory entries and winning this race, the attacker can redirect these operations to unintended files. This could lead to unauthorized changes in file ownership and permissions on arbitrary files, potentially compromising system integrity and availability by altering system or application states or rendering services unusable.
Weakness: CWE-363
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-91203?
How do I fix CVE-2026-91203?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-91203 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-91203 exists.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-91203, GHSA-2wj2-6xq8-f5rx, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-91203.