CVE-2026-53794

rsync < 3.5.0 Denial of Service via --max-alloc=0 Logic Error

Published Aug 13, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 6.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
rsync before 3.5.0 contains a logic error in --max-alloc handling that allows a sender or configuration setting --max-alloc=0 to disable allocation sanity checks entirely rather than enforcing a zero-byte cap. Attackers can exploit this flaw to cause the receiver to attempt unbounded memory allocations for file list and data structures, potentially exhausting available memory and causing a denial of service.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4888-1 rsync security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6527-1 rsync security update
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Samba
Samba rsync
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:samba:rsync:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Samba
Samba rsync
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Rsync Project
Rsync Project rsync
Vendors & Products Rsync Project
Rsync Project rsync
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description rsync before 3.5.0 contains a logic error in --max-alloc handling that allows a sender or configuration setting --max-alloc=0 to disable allocation sanity checks entirely rather than enforcing a zero-byte cap. Attackers can exploit this flaw to cause the receiver to attempt unbounded memory allocations for file list and data structures, potentially exhausting available memory and causing a denial of service.
Title rsync < 3.5.0 Denial of Service via --max-alloc=0 Logic Error
Weaknesses CWE-1284
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
VulnCheck
Published
Updated
Aug 14, 2026, 4:50 PM
Reserved
Jun 10, 2026, 8:14 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Aug 13, 2026, 3:19 PM
Modified
Nov 6, 2026, 4:00 PM