CVE-2026-63294 PUBLISHED

Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink

Assigner: canonical
Reserved: 16.07.2026 Published: 12.08.2026 Updated: 13.08.2026

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.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS Score: 9.9

Product Status

Vendor Canonical
Product LXD
Versions Default: unaffected
  • affected from 4.0.0 to 4.0.12 (excl.)
  • affected from 5.0.0 to 5.0.8 (excl.)
  • affected from 5.21.0 to 5.21.6 (excl.)
  • affected from 6.0 to 6.10 (excl.)

Solutions

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.

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') CWE

Impacts

  • Symlink Symbolic Link Execution
  • Privilege Escalation