CVE-2026-88016 PUBLISHED

rclone: Directory metadata (chmod/chown/chtimes) applied through a planted symlink in rclone local --links escapes the destination

Assigner: GitHub_M
Reserved: 09.09.2026 Published: 10.09.2026 Updated: 10.09.2026

rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. Prior to 1.75.1, when backend/local runs with --links, a source .rclonelink object can plant a symlink in the destination and later directory metadata is applied through that path. MkdirMetadata, writeMetadataToFile, and setTimes operate when Directory.translatedLink=false, so os.Chown, os.Chmod, os.Chtimes, and birth-time handling can bypass os.Root confinement and follow the symlink. An attacker controlling source contents can therefore apply selected ownership, permissions, modification times, or birth times to a file or directory outside the destination, with --metadata required for chmod and chown while modification time is applied by the normal directory workflow. This issue is fixed in version 1.75.1.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:L
CVSS Score: 7.1

Product Status

Vendor rclone
Product rclone
Versions
  • Version < 1.75.1 is affected

References

Problem Types

  • CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') CWE
  • CWE-281: Improper Preservation of Permissions CWE