Arbitrary File Read/Write: metadata.yaml symlink in image allows host filesystem access as root
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
A link following vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary file read and write operations on the host system. When importing or unpacking an image archive, LXD fails to validate whether the metadata.yaml file is a symbolic link. An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with a symlinked metadata.yaml file pointing to target file paths on the host system.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical | LXD | 4.0.0 to before 4.0.12; 5.0.0 to before 5.0.8; 5.21.0 to before 5.21.6; 6.0 to before 6.10 | 4.0.12, 5.0.8, 5.21.6, 6.10 | Patch available | CNA |
- LXD VendorCanonical Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.0.12; 5.0.0 to before 5.0.8; 5.21.0 to before 5.21.6; 6.0 to before 6.10 Fixed in 4.0.12, 5.0.8, 5.21.6, 6.10 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA LXD (Canonical) Fixed in 4.0.12, 5.0.8, 5.21.6, 6.10
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Canonical LXD 4.0.12, 5.0.8 and 2 more versions
3 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 2 HIGH, 1 MEDIUM
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-45140 Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlinkPriority HIGH 76
- TI-2026-45141 Project restriction `restricted.containers.privilege=isolated` bypassable by omitting `security.idmap.isolated`Priority MEDIUM 53
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-63293
References
More Canonical Lxd vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-22659 Authenticated RCE via unsanitized compression_algorithm CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2026-47475 Path traversal via unvalidated instance name in backup tarball restore enables root file write / RCE CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-45146 Cross-project instance move bypasses all project restrictions allowing host command execution CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-45143 Cross-project instance copy bypasses target project restrictions via TOCTOU in config merge CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-45142 Project restriction bypass via instance migration config override CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2026-45140 Root RCE via image backup.yaml symlink CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences