CVE-2024-12088 — Rsync: --safe-links option bypass leads to path traversal
A flaw was found in rsync. When using the `--safe-links` option, the rsync client fails to properly verify if a symbolic link destination sent from the server contains another symbolic link within it. This results in a path traversal vulnerability, which may lead to arbitrary file write outside the desired directory.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 4.6% (30-day exploitation probability)+14
- Technical severity (high)+6
- CISA SSVC: exploitation "poc"+5
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Almalinux Almalinux, Archlinux Arch Linux, Gentoo Linux…).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- EPSS ahead of 92% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (file handling), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almalinux | Almalinux | version 10.0version 9.0version 8.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Archlinux | Arch Linux | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Gentoo | Linux | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Nixos | Nixos | < 24.11 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Novell | Suse Linux | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Discovery | version 1.14 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux | version 7.0version 6.0version 8.0version 9.0version 10.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Eus | version 9.6 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux For Arm 64 | version 9.0_aarch64version 8.0_aarch64 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux For Arm 64 Eus | version 9.6_aarch64 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux For Ibm Z Systems | version 9.0_s390xversion 8.0_s390x | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux For Ibm Z Systems Eus | version 9.6_s390x | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux For Power Little Endian | version 8.0_ppc64leversion 9.0_ppc64le | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux For Power Little Endian Eus | version 9.6_ppc64le | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Server Aus | version 9.6 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Server For Power Little Endian Update Services For Sap Solutions | version 9.6_ppc64le | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Enterprise Linux Update Services For Sap Solutions | version 9.6 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Openshift Container Platform | version 4.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Discovery 1.14 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | versions not specified by the source | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Samba | Rsync | ≤ 3.3.0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Tritondatacenter | Smartos | < 20250123 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 6.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 2.8 | 3.6 | secalert@redhat.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 6.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 6.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | — | — | redhat via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Monitor file creation in web directories and paths with traversal sequences (../).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · red hat/red hat openshift container platform 4
- Affected products added · red hat/red hat enterprise linux 10, red hat/red hat enterprise linux 8, red hat/red hat enterprise linux 9, red hat/red
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Affected products added · samba/rsync, redhat/discovery, redhat/openshift container platform, redhat/enterprise linux, redhat/enterprise linux eus
- CVSS changed · 7.5
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- 2025
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 21, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 21, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026
References
14 on the record
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250131-0002
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/952657
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250131-0002/
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:7050
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/01/msg00008.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:8385
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi
- github.com/google/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-p5pg-x43v-mvqj
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2025:6470
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-ffph-g3pc-8r3g
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-12088
- kb.cert.org/vuls/id/952657
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:2600
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-12088
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Medium CVE-2026-115207 Patch: filename validation bypass in reversal fallback allows file creation outside the working directory 6h
- High CVE-2026-111079 Goose: goose: shell history and environment leak via terminal integration 6h
- Medium CVE-2026-114406 Ca-certificates: distrust emudhra intermediate ca certificates due to security concerns 20h
- Medium CVE-2026-85518 Openscap: openscap: arbitrary file write via path traversal in source datastream decomposition 21h
- Low CVE-2026-114236 Podman: goroutine/file-descriptor leak in storage/pkg/archive.applylayer and applyuncompressedlayer on malformed layers 1d
- Medium CVE-2026-92823 Libmodulemd: libmodulemd: missing decompressed-size limit when parsing compressed yaml 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2024-12088 is "Rsync: --safe-links option bypass leads to path traversal", rated High. It affects Almalinux (Almalinux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 4.65% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
Comments
Moderated technical discussion. Read the community guidelines.
No comments yet.
Sign in or create an account to comment and suggest corrections.