rclone: Unvalidated symlink target in local `--links` — arbitrary file write from an untrusted remote
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 35/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.40% (FIRST EPSS).
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. A user must open a link or visit a page. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: rclone rclone 1.74.4.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to rclone rclone 1.74.4 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. Prior to 1.74.4, with -l/--links, rclone serializes symlinks as .rclonelink text objects and recreates them on a local destination without validating the target, allowing an attacker-controlled remote to plant an escaping symlink and cause a following object write to land outside the destination with attacker-chosen contents. This issue is fixed in version 1.74.4.
- Published
- Jul 14, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.4% · 33th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-59
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Report tools
Action score
35
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 35 / 40 · 8.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.4%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- proof of concept
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 8.8
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 7.5
- 1.3 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Noroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| rclone | rclone | cpe:2.3:a:rclone:rclone |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- rclone rclonebefore 1.74.4
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
rclone rclone
- < 1.74.4affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | rclone | all versions | — |
| Go | github.com/rclone/rclone | before 1.74.4 | 1.74.4 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | rclone | before 1.74.4-1.1 | 1.74.4-1.1 |
Same product
rclone: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2026-88018rclone serve s3: --auth-proxy without --auth-key authenticates nobody - full SigV4 signature bypass39Monitor
- CVE-2026-49980Rclone: Unauthenticated command execution in `rclone rcd --rc-serve` via inline remote instantiation, bypassing CVE-2026-41179 fix39Monitor
- CVE-2026-41179RClone: Unauthenticated operations/fsinfo allows attacker-controlled backend instantiation and local command execution38Monitor
- CVE-2026-79782rclone before 1.74.4 Security Token Disclosure via HTTPS to HTTP Redirect37Monitor
- CVE-2026-41176Rclone: Unauthenticated options/set allows runtime auth bypass, leading to sensitive operations and command execution37Monitor
- CVE-2026-88044rclone: RC per-server auth-proxy bypass36Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| rclone rclone | 1.74.4 · description | Vendor (CNA) |
| Go:github.com/rclone/rclone | 1.74.4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:rclone | 1.74.4-1.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
- CVE-2026-8801658 days apartrclone: Directory metadata (chmod/chown/chtimes) applied through a planted symlink in rclone local --links escapes the destination28Monitor
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- low · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- low · the service can be disrupted
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- Low
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- Low
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or Information: HTML SmugglingT1027.006
- Obfuscated Files or Information: Embedded PayloadsT1027.009
- Boot or Logon Autostart Execution:Shortcut ModificationT1547.009
- Hide Artifacts: Resource ForkingT1564.009
- Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions WeaknessT1574.005
- Hijack Execution Flow: Services File Permissions WeaknessT1574.010
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- github.com/rclone/rclone/commit/1154afebee986180b489084d38e2a0c578751498
- github.com/rclone/rclone/commit/874a804f5289517defdd7de68b2a374837080265
- github.com/rclone/rclone/releases/tag/v1.74.4
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.