---
title: "CVE-2026-41176: Rclone: Unauthenticated options/set allows runtime auth bypass, leading to sensitive operations and command execution"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-41176/
description: "CVE-2026-41176 (github.com/rclone/rclone (Go)): Rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-04-22
date_modified: 2026-07-15
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-41176"
kev: false
cvss: 9.2
epss: 0.03216
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-41176: Rclone: Unauthenticated options/set allows runtime auth bypass, leading to sensitive operations and command execution

**Signal:** Critical and remotely reachable. No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Not in CISA KEV , but CISA’s SSVC assessment records a public proof-of-concept, so attack code exists.
- EPSS 3.2% , percentile 88: FIRST’s model estimates a 3.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 88% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes github.com/rclone/rclone (Go) >= 1.45.0, < 1.73.5, fixed in 1.73.5 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

Rclone is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers. The RC endpoint options/set is exposed without AuthRequired: true, but it can mutate global runtime configuration, including the RC option block itself. Starting in version 1.45.0 and prior to version 1.73.5, an unauthenticated attacker can set rc.NoAuth=true, which disables the authorization gate for many RC methods registered with AuthRequired: true on reachable RC servers that are started without global HTTP authentication. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functionality, including configuration and operational RC methods. Version 1.73.5 patches the issue.

## Affected packages

- Go `github.com/rclone/rclone` >= 1.45.0, < 1.73.5 → fixed: 1.73.5

## Affected products (CVE record)

- rclone rclone: >= 1.45.0, < 1.73.5

## Severity

- GitHub_M CVSS 4.0: 9.2 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- redhat-SADP CVSS 3.1: 9.8 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 4.0: 9.2 `CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation poc , automatable yes , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 3.22% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 88.

## Sources

- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-25qr-6mpr-f7qx](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-25qr-6mpr-f7qx)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-41176](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-41176)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-41176](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41176)
- [github.com](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/security/advisories/GHSA-25qr-6mpr-f7qx)
- [github.com](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/config.go)
- [github.com](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go)
- [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-41176)
- [RHBZ#2460989](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460989)
- [security.access.redhat.com](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-41176.json)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-41176/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt