LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2026-49980: Rclone: Unauthenticated command execution in `rclone rcd --rc-serve` via inline remote instantiation, bypassing CVE-2026-41179 fix

Rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. From 1.46.0 until 1.74.3, rclone rcd --rc-serve accepts unauthenticated GET and HEAD requests to paths of the form: /[remote:path]/object. The remote value is parsed from the URL and passed to normal backend initialization. Inline remote configuration can set backend options that execute local commands during initialization. As a result, a single unauthenticated GET or HEAD request can execute a command as the rclone process user. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.74.3.

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A network-accessible rclone daemon using the affected file-serving mode can let an unauthenticated attacker run commands with the daemon’s operating-system permissions. Successful compromise could expose or alter data and disrupt services. The issue affects rclone versions 1.46.0 through 1.74.2 and is fixed in 1.74.3.

Executive priority

Treat reachable affected services as an immediate remediation priority because a single unauthenticated request may execute commands with the rclone service account’s access. Prioritize internet-facing instances, then internally reachable deployments. Upgrade promptly and investigate exposed systems for compromise indicators, while avoiding claims of active exploitation without supporting evidence.

Technical view

In affected versions, `rclone rcd --rc-serve` passes remote values from unauthenticated GET or HEAD paths into normal backend initialization. Inline remote configuration can supply backend options that execute local commands during initialization, producing unauthenticated command execution as the rclone process user. This bypasses the earlier CVE-2026-41179 fix.

Likely exposure

Exposure requires rclone 1.46.0 through 1.74.2 running `rcd` with `--rc-serve` and accepting attacker-reachable requests. Internet-facing instances are the clearest concern, but reachable internal services may also be exposed. Installations not using this mode are not identified as vulnerable by the supplied evidence.

Exploitation context

The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.8, reflecting network exploitation without authentication or user interaction and potentially complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The supplied record does not list this CVE in KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation; exploitation status is therefore unconfirmed.

Researcher notes

The vulnerable data flow is URL path parsing to backend initialization, where inline remote options may trigger local command execution. Assess effective process privileges, accessible credentials, mounted storage, and network reachability when estimating impact. The supplied sources establish a bypass of CVE-2026-41179 but do not provide evidence of exploitation in the wild.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected rclone installations to version 1.74.3 or later.
  • Disable `--rc-serve` where it is not operationally required.
  • Until upgraded, restrict daemon reachability to explicitly trusted systems.
  • Review current rclone vendor guidance before applying compensating controls.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory rclone versions and identify releases from 1.46.0 through 1.74.2.
  • Identify processes or service definitions using `rclone rcd` with `--rc-serve`.
  • Determine whether affected listeners are reachable from untrusted or unnecessary network segments.
  • Review relevant request and process telemetry for suspicious access or unexpected child processes.
  • Confirm remediated systems report rclone 1.74.3 or later.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

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 · 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
cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup

Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter 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 lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-49980 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
5Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: 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:H3.95.9GitHub_M
8.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.25.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-49980Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
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: Remote Code Execution via unauthenticated requests when `rcd --rc-serve` is enabled
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-06-24T19:01:27.946Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-06-24T17:52:33.024Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
rclonerclone>= 1.46.0, < 1.74.3Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-306CWE-78

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