Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink (Canonical LXD)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 0.88 % · percentile 59 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- canonical
- NVD status
- Analyzed
Description
A link following vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve root command execution on the host system. During the import or unpacking of crafted image or backup archives, LXD fails to properly validate and confine the backup.yaml file when it exists as a symbolic link. An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a malicious archive with a symlinked backup.yaml file, causing LXD to process unconfined configuration metadata and execute arbitrary commands with root privileges.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-59 — Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
References
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL 9.9 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H | canonical |
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL 9.9 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H | NVD · security@ubuntu.com (Secondary) |
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-57538
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2026-63294
Affected configurations (NVD CPE)
cpe:2.3:a:canonical:lxd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*≥ 4.0.0 < 4.0.12cpe:2.3:a:canonical:lxd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*≥ 5.0.0 < 5.0.8cpe:2.3:a:canonical:lxd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*≥ 5.1 < 5.21.6cpe:2.3:a:canonical:lxd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*≥ 6.0 < 6.10
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Canonical · LXD | affected 4.0.0 < 4.0.12 ; affected 5.0.0 < 5.0.8 ; affected 5.21.0 < 5.21.6 ; affected 6.0 < 6.10 |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |