CVE-2026-35338
Chmoder::chmod() only compares the literal argument against Path::new("/"), so the --preserve-root guard is bypassed by any path that *resolves* to root — a symlink to / or simply /../.
if self.recursive && self.preserve_root && file == Path::new("/") {
return Err(ChmodError::PreserveRoot("/".to_string()).into());
}
PoC — recursively chmods the entire filesystem to 000 despite --preserve-root:
chmod -R --preserve-root 000 /../ -v
Impact: --preserve-root is the documented safeguard against destructive recursive operations on /. Bypassing it allows chmod -R to alter permissions across the whole filesystem, causing a complete system breakdown. Recommendation: canonicalize the target path before comparing against root.
Remediation: Acknowledged by Canonical; fixed in commit 413055b3.
_Reported by Zellic in the *uutils coreutils Program Security Assessment* (prepared for Canonical, Jan 20 2026), audited commit 3a07ffc5a9bd4c283e75afa548ba1f1957bad242. Finding 3.1. Credit: Zellic._
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Exploitation outlook
- Low exploitation risk0.18% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 7% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.
Advisory coverage (1)
External references
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