Vulnerability Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains a privilege confusion vulnerability in the name-converter subprocess uid/gid mapping that allows local attackers to cause transferred files to be owned by root by influencing name-converter responses to return empty values. When the name-converter subprocess returns an empty response for a uid or gid lookup, rsync incorrectly interprets it as a successful resolution to uid/gid 0 (root) rather than a lookup failure, and if the name-converter also signals fake super-user status, rsync proceeds with root ownership assignments for transferred files.
CVSS Score
MEDIUM
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Samba | Rsync | < 3.5.0 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0ProductRelease Notes
- https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-hx7p-3gvv-pqgvVendor Advisory
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-privilege-confusion-via-name-converteRelease NotesThird Party Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-53798?
CVE-2026-53798 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.3 (MEDIUM). rsync before 3.5.0 contains a privilege confusion vulnerability in the name-converter subprocess uid/gid mapping that allows local attackers to cause transferred files to be owned by root by influenci...
How severe is CVE-2026-53798?
CVE-2026-53798 has been rated MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.3/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-53798?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Samba Rsync.