CVE-2026-23954

Incus container image templating arbitrary host file read and write

Published Jan 22, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 8.7 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Versions 6.21.0 and below allow a user with the ability to launch a container with a custom image (e.g a member of the ‘incus’ group) to use directory traversal or symbolic links in the templating functionality to achieve host arbitrary file read, and host arbitrary file write. This ultimately results in arbitrary command execution on the host. When using an image with a metadata.yaml containing templates, both the source and target paths are not checked for symbolic links or directory traversal. This can also be exploited in IncusOS. A fix is planned for versions 6.0.6 and 6.21.0, but they have not been released at the time of publication.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6109-1 incus security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6153-1 lxd security update
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-7f67-crqm-jgh7 Incus container image templating arbitrary host file read and write
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linuxcontainers
Linuxcontainers incus
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:linuxcontainers:incus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linuxcontainers
Linuxcontainers incus
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Lxc
Lxc incus
Vendors & Products Lxc
Lxc incus
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. Versions 6.21.0 and below allow a user with the ability to launch a container with a custom image (e.g a member of the ‘incus’ group) to use directory traversal or symbolic links in the templating functionality to achieve host arbitrary file read, and host arbitrary file write. This ultimately results in arbitrary command execution on the host. When using an image with a metadata.yaml containing templates, both the source and target paths are not checked for symbolic links or directory traversal. This can also be exploited in IncusOS. A fix is planned for versions 6.0.6 and 6.21.0, but they have not been released at the time of publication.
Title Incus container image templating arbitrary host file read and write
Weaknesses CWE-22
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Jan 26, 2026, 9:02 PM
Reserved
Jan 19, 2026, 2:49 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jan 22, 2026, 10:16 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:22 AM