CVE-2026-16552 MEDIUM

CVE-2026-16552: Systemd: systemd-tmpfiles symlink-redirected arbitrary file overwrite via a chase_safe root-to-unprivileged ownership transition bypass

Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Weakness CWE-59
Published July 22, 2026
Last update July 22, 2026

CVSS base score

6.3/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity High
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity High

CVSS vector

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

What the vulnerability does

01Description

A flaw was found in systemd-tmpfiles. When processing a tmpfiles.d configuration entry that writes to a file, systemd-tmpfiles can follow a symbolic link placed by an unprivileged local user, and an existing safety check does not detect this specific case because it always treats transitions away from the root user as safe. On systems where a tmpfiles.d configuration targets a path an unprivileged user can influence, this could allow that user to redirect a privileged systemd-tmpfiles write to a file of their choosing, though the content written remains determined by the existing configuration rather than by the unprivileged user. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to integrity.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

July 22, 2026 CVE published