Security Digest · Vulnerability record
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.
CVSS 6.5 Medium EPSS 4.6% · p92 Check exposure
Should you act?
Normal patch cycle
No exploitation signal; fix it in your next routine update if you are affected. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Not in CISA KEV, but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 4.6%, percentile 92: FIRST’s model estimates a 4.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 92% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs a user to click or open something. Phishing makes that realistic, but it is not wormable.
- Editorial verdict: Check exposure. rsync: Six Flaws Incl. Daemon Heap Overflow (CVE-2024-12084) — Distros shipped fixes in January 2025 and there is no known exploitation, but internet-facing rsync daemons have since needed two more security releases, so verify you run a current rsync rather than just 3.4.0.
What it is
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.
Weakness type: CWE-22.
Product: rsync · Assigned by: redhat · Published: 2025-01-14
Affected and fixed versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| rsync | <= 3.3.0 | |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Discovery 1.14 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | see vendor advisory |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | see vendor advisory |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| redhat | 3.1 | 6.5 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: required (a user must click/open something)
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc, automatable no, technical impact partial.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 4.65% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 92.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by redhat
- — erroneo.us brief: rsync: Six Flaws Incl. Daemon Heap Overflow (CVE-2024-12084)
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- RHBA-2025:6470 access.redhat.com
- RHSA-2025:2600 access.redhat.com
- RHSA-2025:7050 access.redhat.com
- RHSA-2025:8385 access.redhat.com
Vulnerability records
- CVE.org record CVE-2024-12088 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2024-12088 nvd.nist.gov
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- access.redhat.com access.redhat.com
- RHBZ#2330676 bugzilla.redhat.com
- kb.cert.org kb.cert.org
- github.com github.com
- security.netapp.com security.netapp.com
- lists.debian.org lists.debian.org
- kb.cert.org kb.cert.org