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OpenAdvisories
High · 8.5 CVE-2026-16033 EUVD-2026-57547

Arbitrary file read+write on host via templates/ symlink in malicious image

Published Aug 12, 2026 · Updated Aug 13, 2026 · Assigned by canonical

Description

A path traversal vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary host file read or unconstrained file creation. When processing image metadata templates, LXD fails to properly sanitize or restrict template file paths from escaping the instance templates directory (specifically affecting virtual machine / QEMU driver execution paths). An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with malicious template directives containing path traversal sequences, causing LXD to access or write files outside the intended template directory on the host system.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Canonical LXD 4.0.0 – < 4.0.12, 5.0.0 – < 5.0.8 4.0.12

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.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 13 lxd No fix yet —
Debian 12 lxd No fix yet —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS lxd No fix yet —
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS lxd No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS lxd No fix yet —

References