Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious rsync sender may redirect file writes outside an intended module directory when vulnerable servers use --partial-dir or --backup-dir and a usable symlink exists. This could overwrite sensitive files and compromise confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Exploitation requires a specific configuration and attacker-controlled or pre-existing symlink, but the potential impact is critical.
Executive priority
Prioritize immediate assessment of internet-facing or partner-accessible rsync services. Expedite upgrades where vulnerable versions, relevant directory options, writable modules, and symlinks overlap. Critical impact justifies urgent action, although the required conditions and lack of cited active exploitation make configuration validation essential for accurate prioritization.
Technical view
rsync versions 2.3.3 through 3.4.x can improperly follow symlinks inside a module tree when processing --partial-dir or --backup-dir. A sender able to place or leverage such a symlink may traverse beyond the module root and achieve arbitrary file writes relative to its parent. CWE-22 and CWE-59 apply. Version 3.5.0 is identified as the corrected release.
Likely exposure
Highest exposure exists on network-accessible rsync services running 2.3.3 through 3.4.x, using --partial-dir or --backup-dir, and accepting writes into module trees containing attacker-controlled or trusted symlinks. Systems without those options or symlink conditions may not be exploitable through this issue. Confirm actual daemon, module, and transfer configurations.
Exploitation context
The supplied record has CVSS 4.0 score 9.2, but attack complexity is high because exploitation depends on configuration and a suitable symlink. The bundle states KEV is false and provides no evidence of active exploitation. Treat exposed qualifying deployments urgently without claiming exploitation has occurred.
Researcher notes
The source bundle describes a path traversal and symlink-following flaw affecting rsync 2.3.3 before 3.5.0. The listed affected-version metadata is ambiguous because it separately shows 2.3.3 and 3.5.0 with a default unaffected status; therefore, use the narrative range and vendor advisory, then confirm downstream package backports. No public exploitation evidence is supplied.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade affected rsync installations to version 3.5.0 or later after compatibility testing.
- Until upgraded, avoid --partial-dir and --backup-dir on writable or untrusted module trees.
- Restrict sender access and remove unnecessary write permissions from exposed rsync modules.
- Review vendor guidance and downstream distribution advisories for supported package updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory rsync versions and identify installations earlier than 3.5.0 but not earlier than 2.3.3.
- Inspect daemon, module, service, and job configurations for --partial-dir or --backup-dir.
- Audit affected module trees for symlinks, especially paths writable by senders.
- Check filesystem logs and integrity monitoring for unexpected writes outside module roots.
- Verify the deployed binary reports version 3.5.0 or later after remediation.
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 lookupCWE-59: 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 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 lookupCVE-2026-70460 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.2 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe 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:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.25.9VulnCheckVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
9.2CriticalVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-w3xf-j2r2-gv4x)CVE reference, VulnCheck · vendor-advisory
- rsync 3.5.0 Release NotesCVE reference, VulnCheck · release-notes
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/rsync-path-traversal-via-partial-dir-backup-dir-symlinkCVE reference, VulnCheck · third-party-advisory
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.