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.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction Passive

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact High

User Interaction Required

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
RsyncProject rsync unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected ≤ 3.4.4
3.5.0 unaffected —

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Project Subscriptions

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-fxwg-7hmf-xh5q cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-arbitrary-file-deletion-via-malicious-file-list cve-icon cve-icon
History

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title rsync < 3.5.0 Arbitrary File Deletion via Malicious File List
Weaknesses CWE-807
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-13T14:37:14.035Z

Reserved: 2026-06-10T20:14:32.827Z

Link: CVE-2026-53789

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-13T15:19:43.030

Modified: 2026-08-13T15:19:43.030

Link: CVE-2026-53789

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T17:00:04Z

Weaknesses