Description
Directory traversal vulnerability in the sanitize_path function in util.c for rsync 2.6.2 and earlier, when chroot is disabled, allows attackers to read or write certain files.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | rsync | 2.6.2-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | rsync | 2.6.2-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | rsync | 2.6.2-3 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | rsync | 2.5.5-0.6 | DSA-538 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 3 | rsync | 2.5.7-5.3E | RHSA-2004:436 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2004:436 Red Hat Security Advisory: rsync security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-538 rsync - unauthorised directory traversal and file access Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- DSA-538 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2004:083 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200408-17 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10561 vdb-entry signature
- 2004-0042 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2004:026 vendor-advisory
- 20040816 TSSA-2004-020-ES - rsync mailing-list
- http://samba.org/rsync/#security_aug04
- 20040817 LNSA-#2004-0017: rsync (Aug, 17 2004) mailing-list