CVE-2026-66897 PUBLISHED

Instance template path traversal allows arbitrary host file write as root

Assigner: canonical
Reserved: 28.07.2026 Published: 24.08.2026 Updated: 24.08.2026

A path traversal vulnerability in LXD's instance template processing allows an attacker with container edit permissions, or any user launching a crafted image, to overwrite arbitrary files on the host system as root. When processing target template paths specified in metadata.yaml, LXD validates the path against a confined os.Root directory handle but subsequently opens and creates the file using os.Create with an unconfined string path. This discrepancy between path resolution checks and file creation allows an attacker to escape directory confinement, overwrite root-owned host files, and achieve host root code execution.

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 4.0.13 (excl.)
  • affected from 5.0.0 to 5.0.9 (excl.)
  • affected from 5.21.0 to 5.21.7 (excl.)
  • affected from 6.0 to 6.10 (excl.)

Solutions

Upgrade to LXD versions 4.0.13, 5.0.9, 5.21.7, 6.10 or later.

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') CWE
  • CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal CWE

Impacts

  • Path Traversal
  • Input Data Manipulation