CVE-2026-64846

Nix: Arbitrary file truncation outside the sandbox with recursive-nix experimental feature

Published Aug 20, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 2.8 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems. Prior to 2.35.0, a malicious derivation executed with the recursive-nix experimental feature can exploit a time-of-check/time-of-use race involving final symlink handling in the LocalStore restore path. The race can cause writeFile to follow a substituted final symlink when opening a path with O_TRUNC instead of enforcing FinalSymlink::DontFollow, allowing the Nix process or nix-daemon to create or truncate an empty file outside the build sandbox with the daemon user's permissions. The primitive does not provide arbitrary-content writes and requires winning the race. This issue is fixed in version 2.35.0.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Nixos
Nixos nix
Vendors & Products Nixos
Nixos nix
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Nix is a package manager for Linux and other Unix systems. Prior to 2.35.0, a malicious derivation executed with the recursive-nix experimental feature can exploit a time-of-check/time-of-use race involving final symlink handling in the LocalStore restore path. The race can cause writeFile to follow a substituted final symlink when opening a path with O_TRUNC instead of enforcing FinalSymlink::DontFollow, allowing the Nix process or nix-daemon to create or truncate an empty file outside the build sandbox with the daemon user's permissions. The primitive does not provide arbitrary-content writes and requires winning the race. This issue is fixed in version 2.35.0.
Title Nix: Arbitrary file truncation outside the sandbox with recursive-nix experimental feature
Weaknesses CWE-367
CWE-61
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 2.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Aug 20, 2026, 7:32 PM
Reserved
Jul 20, 2026, 6:31 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Aug 20, 2026, 5:19 PM
Modified
Oct 18, 2026, 8:10 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Aug 20, 2026, 4:18 PM