Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2026-16033

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

8.5 High

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.47%Up 0.2 points since Aug 13, 2026
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.5

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

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.

Record
CVE-2026-16033
CVSS 3.1
8.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-57547 8.5

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.

Record
EUVD-2026-57547
CVSS 3.1
8.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 8.5

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.

Record
CVE-2026-16033
CVSS 3.1
8.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 8.5

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

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.

Record
CVE-2026-16033
CVSS 3.1
8.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-22
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-16033 8.5

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.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-16033
CVSS 3.1
8.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-16033 8.5

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.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-16033
CVSS 3.1
8.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
lxd
Debian:12
All versions, plus listed versions
5.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-15.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-25.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-35.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-45.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-5
Show 12 moreShow less
5.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-65.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-75.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-85.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-95.0.2-55.0.2-5+deb12u15.0.2-5+deb12u25.0.2-5+deb12u35.0.2-5+deb12u45.0.2-5+deb12u55.0.2-5+deb12u65.0.2-6
None known
lxd
Debian:13
All versions, plus listed versions
5.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-95.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u15.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u25.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u35.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u45.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u55.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u65.0.2+git20231211.1364ae4-9+deb13u7
None known
lxd
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
0.20-0ubuntu40.21-0ubuntu30.21-0ubuntu50.22-0ubuntu10.22-0ubuntu2
Show 45 moreShow less
0.23-0ubuntu10.23-0ubuntu20.23-0ubuntu30.24-0ubuntu20.24-0ubuntu30.24-0ubuntu40.25-0ubuntu10.26-0ubuntu20.26-0ubuntu30.27-0ubuntu10.27-0ubuntu22.0.0~beta1-0ubuntu32.0.0~beta1-0ubuntu42.0.0~beta2-0ubuntu12.0.0~beta2-0ubuntu22.0.0~beta3-0ubuntu12.0.0~beta3-0ubuntu22.0.0~beta3-0ubuntu32.0.0~beta3-0ubuntu42.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu12.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu22.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu32.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu42.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu52.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu62.0.0~beta4-0ubuntu72.0.0~rc1-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc1-0ubuntu22.0.0~rc1-0ubuntu32.0.0~rc2-0ubuntu22.0.0~rc2-0ubuntu32.0.0~rc3-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc3-0ubuntu22.0.0~rc3-0ubuntu32.0.0~rc3-0ubuntu42.0.0~rc4-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc5-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc6-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc6-0ubuntu22.0.0~rc7-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc7-0ubuntu22.0.0~rc8-0ubuntu12.0.0~rc8-0ubuntu22.0.0~rc8-0ubuntu32.0.0~rc8-0ubuntu5
None known
lxd
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
2.18-0ubuntu62.19-0ubuntu12.20-0ubuntu32.20-0ubuntu42.21-0ubuntu1
Show 18 moreShow less
2.21-0ubuntu22.21-0ubuntu32.21-0ubuntu43.0.0~beta2-0ubuntu33.0.0~beta3-0ubuntu33.0.0~beta5-0ubuntu23.0.0~beta7-0ubuntu13.0.0-0ubuntu13.0.0-0ubuntu23.0.0-0ubuntu33.0.0-0ubuntu43.0.1-0ubuntu1~18.04.13.0.2-0ubuntu1~18.04.13.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.13.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.23.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.2+esm13.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.2+esm23.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.2+esm3
None known
lxd
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
1:0.71:0.81:0.91:0.10
None known

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2026-16033 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.5) in Canonical Lxd, published August 12, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.47%, the 40th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

This page doesn't list everything

Left out here: 26 versions. The JSON record has them.

MoveEnter Open