CVE-2026-54572

rclone: Unvalidated symlink target in local `--links` — arbitrary file write from an untrusted remote

HIGH
8.8
CVSS Score
Published: July 14, 2026 at 09:37 PM UTC
Updated: July 17, 2026 at 03:28 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorRclone

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Severity
HIGH8.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.4%
SSVC
PoC

Description

Rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. Prior to 1.74.4, with -l/--links, rclone serializes symlinks as .rclonelink text objects and recreates them on a local destination without validating the target, allowing an attacker-controlled remote to plant an escaping symlink and cause a following object write to land outside the destination with attacker-chosen contents. This issue is fixed in version 1.74.4.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 1.74.4
Affected range stops below 1.74.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (4)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/rclone/rclone/security/advisories/GHSA-cf44-9pgv-m4xc
x_refsource_MISCRelease Notes
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/rclone/rclone/releases/tag/v1.74.4

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
LOW
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-59

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