CVE-2026-35349
uutils coreutils Path-Based Safety Bypass with --preserve-root
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
uutils coreutils Path-Based Safety Bypass with --preserve-root
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
CVE-2026-35349- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-24981
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
EUVD-2026-24981- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j
rm: --preserve-root bypassed via a symlink to / (string check instead of dev/inode)
The --preserve-root check uses a path-string test (path.has_root() && path.parent().is_none()) rather than comparing device/inode. A symlink to / (e.g. /tmp/rootlink -> /) has a parent component, so it passes the check. GNU caches /'s dev/inode at startup and compares every traversed directory against it.
Impact: rm -rf --preserve-root on a path that resolves through a symlink to / bypasses protection and can delete system directories. Recommendation: compare each entered directory's dev/inode against cached /.
Remediation: Acknowledged by Canonical; fixed in commit 5e5968cd.
Reported by Zellic in the uutils coreutils Program Security Assessment (prepared for Canonical, Jan 20 2026), audited commit 3a07ffc5a9bd4c283e75afa548ba1f1957bad242. Finding 3.44. Credit: Zellic.
- Record
GHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59, CWE-693
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg
Duplicate Advisory: uutils coreutils has a Link Following Issue Via rm Utility
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
GHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
CVE-2026-35349- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 7.7 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
uutils coreutils Path-Based Safety Bypass with --preserve-root
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
CVE-2026-35349- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-35349
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-35349- CVSS 3.1
- 7.7 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j
rm: --preserve-root bypassed via a symlink to / (string check instead of dev/inode)
The --preserve-root check uses a path-string test (path.has_root() && path.parent().is_none()) rather than comparing device/inode. A symlink to / (e.g. /tmp/rootlink -> /) has a parent component, so it passes the check. GNU caches /'s dev/inode at startup and compares every traversed directory against it.
Impact: rm -rf --preserve-root on a path that resolves through a symlink to / bypasses protection and can delete system directories. Recommendation: compare each entered directory's dev/inode against cached /.
Remediation: Acknowledged by Canonical; fixed in commit 5e5968cd.
Reported by Zellic in the uutils coreutils Program Security Assessment (prepared for Canonical, Jan 20 2026), audited commit 3a07ffc5a9bd4c283e75afa548ba1f1957bad242. Finding 3.44. Credit: Zellic.
- Record
GHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59, CWE-693
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg
Duplicate Advisory: uutils coreutils has a Link Following Issue Via rm Utility
Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
GHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-35349
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-35349- CVSS 3.1
- 6.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - CVSS 3.1
- 7.7 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
uu_rmcrates.io |
before 0.7.0 | 0.7.0 |
rust-coreutilsDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0.17-20.0.17-30.0.17-40.0.17-50.0.17-6 Show 39 moreShow less0.0.19-10.0.19-20.0.19-30.0.20-10.0.21-10.0.22-10.0.23-10.0.23-20.0.23-30.0.24-10.0.24-20.0.26-10.0.26-20.0.26-30.0.26-40.0.26-50.0.27-10.0.27-20.0.27-30.0.30-10.0.30-20.0.30-30.0.30-3~exp10.0.30-40.10.0-10.11.0-10.11.0-20.12.0-10.6.0-10.7.0-10.8.0-10.8.0-20.8.0-30.8.0-40.8.0-50.8.0-60.9.0-10.9.0-20.9.0-3 |
None known |
rust-coreutilsDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0.30-20.0.30-30.0.30-3~exp10.0.30-40.10.0-1 Show 14 moreShow less0.11.0-10.11.0-20.12.0-10.6.0-10.7.0-10.8.0-10.8.0-20.8.0-30.8.0-40.8.0-50.8.0-60.9.0-10.9.0-20.9.0-3 |
None known |
rust-coreutilsDebian:14 |
before 0.7.0-1, plus listed versions 0.0.30-20.0.30-30.0.30-3~exp10.0.30-40.6.0-1 |
0.7.0-1 |
rust-coreutilsUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0.20-10.0.22-10.0.23-10.0.23-20.0.23-30.0.24-10.0.24-2 |
None known |
rust-coreutilsUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0.30-10.0.30-20.0.30-2ubuntu20.1.0-0ubuntu10.1.0+git20250711.2ba3a33-0ubuntu1 Show 11 moreShow less0.1.0+git20250711.2ba3a33-0ubuntu20.1.0+git20250711.2ba3a33-0ubuntu30.1.0+git20250711.2ba3a33-0ubuntu40.1.0+git20250801.cf79675-0ubuntu10.1.0+git20250813.4af2a84-0ubuntu20.1.0+git20250813.4af2a84-0ubuntu40.1.0+git20250813.4af2a84-0ubuntu60.1.0+git20250813.4af2a84-0ubuntu70.2.2-0ubuntu10.2.2-0ubuntu20.2.2-0ubuntu2.1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-35349 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.7) in Uutils Coreutils, published April 22, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.18%, the 8th percentile. Fixed in uu_rm 0.7.0.
References
github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/9706
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35349