Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets an authorized Incus user who can launch containers with custom images abuse image templating to read or write files on the host. That can lead to command execution on the host system. It is not described as unauthenticated remote access, but it is serious where untrusted users have Incus access.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on shared Incus hosts or environments where developers, tenants, or automation can create custom images. The business risk is host compromise from a lower-privileged account. Single-admin, tightly controlled deployments are lower urgency but should still track vendor fixes.
Technical view
Incus image templates in affected versions do not properly check source or target paths for directory traversal or symbolic links. A low-privileged authorized user can craft a custom image with metadata templates to access arbitrary host files. Sources state this can affect IncusOS and ultimately enables host command execution.
Likely exposure
Systems running affected Incus versions, especially multi-user hosts where members of the incus group or similar users can launch containers from custom images. The source bundle lists Incus <=6.0.5 and 6.1.0 through 6.20.0; the description also references 6.21.0 and below, so confirm against vendor guidance.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is supported by KEV or the provided sources. Exploitation requires low-privileged access capable of launching a container with a custom image. The impact is high because successful abuse crosses from container image handling to host file access and possible host command execution.
Researcher notes
The main weakness is CWE-22 path traversal in template source and target handling, compounded by symlink handling. The record includes inconsistent affected-version wording, so researchers should rely on the vendor advisory for final fixed-version boundaries. Avoid assuming a released patch unless the advisory confirms it.
Mitigation direction
- Restrict Incus access to trusted administrators only.
- Remove unnecessary users from the incus group or equivalent roles.
- Do not allow untrusted custom images on affected hosts.
- Check the GitHub advisory for fixed releases before upgrading.
- Apply vendor fixes when Incus 6.0.6 or 6.21.0 guidance is available.
- Treat affected IncusOS deployments as in scope.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Incus and IncusOS deployments and record exact versions.
- Identify users allowed to launch containers with custom images.
- Review whether untrusted images with metadata templates were used.
- Check host logs for unusual container launches by low-privileged users.
- Monitor the vendor advisory for release and remediation updates.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-22: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupContainer behavior lookup
The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-23954 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N2.35.8Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/lxc/incus/security/advisories/GHSA-7f67-crqm-jgh7CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/lxc/incus/blob/HEAD/internal/server/instance/drivers/driver_lxc.go#L7294CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/user-attachments/files/24473599/template_arbitrary_write.shCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/user-attachments/files/24473601/templates_arbitrary_write.patchCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.