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CVE Record

CVE-2026-41176: Rclone: Unauthenticated options/set allows runtime auth bypass, leading to sensitive operations and command execution

Rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. The RC endpoint `options/set` is exposed without `AuthRequired: true`, but it can mutate global runtime configuration, including the RC option block itself. Starting in version 1.45.0 and prior to version 1.73.5, an unauthenticated attacker can set `rc.NoAuth=true`, which disables the authorization gate for many RC methods registered with `AuthRequired: true` on reachable RC servers that are started without global HTTP authentication. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functionality, including configuration and operational RC methods. Version 1.73.5 patches the issue.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Rclone’s remote-control server can let an unauthenticated network user change runtime options. On affected versions, that can disable authorization checks and expose sensitive administrative actions. The issue is critical when RC is reachable and lacks global HTTP authentication. Version 1.73.5 is the named fix.

Executive priority

Treat this as urgent for any environment exposing rclone RC. The business risk is unauthorized control of backup, sync, and storage operations. Patch and reduce RC exposure quickly, then investigate whether sensitive storage credentials or data operations may have been accessed.

Technical view

The RC method options/set lacked AuthRequired:true and could mutate global options, including rc.NoAuth. In rclone 1.45.0 through before 1.73.5, an unauthenticated request to reachable RC servers without global HTTP authentication can turn off authorization for many protected RC methods. CVSS is 9.8 with CWE-15 and CWE-306.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to rclone deployments running versions >=1.45.0 and <1.73.5 with an RC server reachable by attackers and started without global HTTP authentication. Internet-exposed RC endpoints are highest risk.

Exploitation context

The supplied sources do not establish active exploitation, and KEV is false. The described attack path is low-complexity and unauthenticated against a reachable misconfigured RC service, with potential access to sensitive administrative functionality and command execution paths noted in the advisory title.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on RC availability, authentication posture, and mutable runtime configuration. The core weakness is unauthenticated configuration mutation that can disable authorization gates. Evidence supports the affected version range and patched version, but supplied sources do not prove exploitation in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade rclone to version 1.73.5 or later.
  • Do not expose RC endpoints to untrusted networks.
  • Require global HTTP authentication for any RC server that remains enabled.
  • Disable RC where it is not operationally required.
  • Review vendor guidance and downstream package advisories.
  • Rotate secrets if RC exposure or unauthorized access is suspected.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory rclone versions and flag anything before 1.73.5.
  • Identify hosts running the RC server and their network reachability.
  • Confirm RC services require global HTTP authentication when enabled.
  • Review logs for unexpected options/set activity or rc.NoAuth changes.
  • Check downstream vendor status, including Red Hat advisories where applicable.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
8

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

CWE-15: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookup
cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-306: Credential and account abuse lookup

Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-41176 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

2CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
2ADP providers
7Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: pocAutomatable: yesTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9redhat-SADP
9.2CVSS 4.0CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——GitHub_M

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 4.0 score

9.2Critical
CVSS 4.0 vector shape for CVE-2026-41176Attack VectorAttack ComplexityAttack RequirementsPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionVS ConfidentialityVS IntegrityVS AvailabilitySS ConfidentialitySS IntegritySS Availability

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Attack Requirements
NonePresent
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NonePassiveActive
VS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
VS Integrity
HighLowNone
VS Availability
HighLowNone
SS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
SS Integrity
HighLowNone
SS Availability
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  3. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  4. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPgithub.com/rclone/rclone: Rclone: Unauthorized access to administrative functions through unauthenticated Remote Control endpoint.
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-04-23T01:01:10.565Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-04-22T23:57:54.075Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
rclonerclone>= 1.45.0, < 1.73.5Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-15CWE-306

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-15 · source CWE mapping

External Control of System or Configuration Setting

External Control of System or Configuration Setting represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs
CWE-306 · source CWE mapping

Missing Authentication for Critical Function

Missing Authentication for Critical Function represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs