A path traversal vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary host file read or unconstrained file creation. When processing image metadata templates, LXD fails to properly sanitize or restrict template file paths from escaping the instance templates directory (specifically affecting virtual machine / QEMU driver execution paths). An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with malicious template directives containing path traversal sequences, causing LXD to access or write files outside the intended template directory on the host system.

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Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

Upgrade to LXD version 4.0.12 or later, or 5.0.8 or later.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A path traversal vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary host file read or unconstrained file creation. When processing image metadata templates, LXD fails to properly sanitize or restrict template file paths from escaping the instance templates directory (specifically affecting virtual machine / QEMU driver execution paths). An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with malicious template directives containing path traversal sequences, causing LXD to access or write files outside the intended template directory on the host system.
Title Arbitrary file read+write on host via templates/ symlink in malicious image
Weaknesses CWE-22
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: canonical

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-12T20:11:08.781Z

Reserved: 2026-07-17T08:44:31.450Z

Link: CVE-2026-16033

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-12T21:17:35.880

Modified: 2026-08-12T21:17:35.880

Link: CVE-2026-16033

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses