# CVE-2026-53801: rsync < 3.5.0 Symlink Race Condition Directory Traversal

CVE-2026-53801 is fixed in 4 products on 1 platform, first by SUSE-SU-2026:3657-1, released August 20, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-53801
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.9 (Moderate)
- EPSS: 0.0029
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Aug 13, 2026
- Weakness: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
- Vendor advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53801

## Description

rsync before 3.5.0 contains a symlink race condition vulnerability in the sender's directory scanning logic that allows attackers to cause the sender to enumerate and transfer files outside the module root's intended subtree. Attackers who can create or manipulate symlinks in a path component of the scanned tree can replace a symlink with a directory entry pointing outside the module root between the lstat() call and the subsequent opendir() call, exposing files beyond the intended root in both daemon-mode and non-daemon sender-side scanning.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | rsync Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 3.5.0+ds1-0+deb13u1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53801](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-53801.md) | Aug 27, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync Debian 14 | 3.5.0+ds1-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53801](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-53801.md) | Aug 27, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync amzn 2023 | 3.5.1-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-3131](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3131.md) | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync opensuse-leap 16.0 | 3.4.1-160000.6.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:21650-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-21650-1.md) | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync sles 15.6 | 3.2.7-150600.3.24.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:3657-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-3657-1.md) | Aug 20, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync sles 15.7 | 3.2.7-150600.3.24.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:3657-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-3657-1.md) | Aug 20, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync sles 16.0 | 3.4.1-160000.6.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:23323-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-23323-1.md) | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync-daemon amzn 2023 | 3.5.1-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-3131](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3131.md) | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 3.5.1-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-3131](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3131.md) | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Linux | rsync-debugsource amzn 2023 | 3.5.1-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-3131](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-3131.md) | Sep 28, 2026 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T13:06:02Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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