CVE-2024-12087
rsync: Path traversal vulnerability in rsync
Severity
ModerateRed Hat Product Security
CVSS 3.1
Review impact separately from score.
Published · January 15, 2025
Updated · November 4, 2026
Description
A path traversal vulnerability exists in rsync. It stems from behavior enabled by the --inc-recursive option, a default-enabled option for many client options and can be enabled by the server even if not explicitly enabled by the client. When using the --inc-recursive option, a lack of proper symlink verification coupled with deduplication checks occurring on a per-file-list basis could allow a server to write files outside of the client's intended destination directory. A malicious server could write malicious files to arbitrary locations named after valid directories/paths on the client.
Statement
Red Hat rates this flaw to have moderate severity as it depends on specific configurations for the attack to succeed, symbolic link syncing must be enabled (explicitly by providing the --links option or implicitly such as with --archive) and the client must connect to a malicious or compromised server.
CVSS score applicability
The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
CVSS / CWE
CVSS 3.1 · 6.5CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CWE-22 · Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory