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.
Published: 2026-08-12
Score: 9.9 Critical
EPSS: 1.0% Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to LXD version 4.0.12 or later, 5.0.8 or later, or 5.12.6 or later, or 6.10 or later.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Canonical
Canonical lxd
Vendors & Products Canonical
Canonical lxd

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink
Weaknesses CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: canonical

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-13T12:38:48.134Z

Reserved: 2026-07-16T09:49:29.911Z

Link: CVE-2026-63294

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T12:38:43.106Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-12T20:17:47.187

Modified: 2026-08-13T13:19:14.460

Link: CVE-2026-63294

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T15:00:04Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-59

    Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')