CVE-2026-91205

Cockpit-files: cockpit-files: local attacker can hijack file ownership via symlink race

Published Sep 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 6 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in cockpit-files. A local unprivileged attacker can exploit a race condition during directory creation with owner assignment. By controlling a writable parent directory, the attacker can replace a newly created directory with a symbolic link (symlink) before the ownership change operation (chown) is applied. This allows the attacker to redirect the ownership change to an arbitrary file, potentially leading to information disclosure or unauthorized modification of sensitive files.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Avoid using the privileged owner-assignment directory-creation flow in Cockpit Files inside directories that are writable by untrusted local users. Restrict write permissions on shared parent directories, and where directories must remain shared and writable, apply the sticky bit so users cannot replace directory entries they do not own. Creating directories without an owner assignment does not trigger the vulnerable privileged chown path and can be used where the owner-setting feature is not required. Updated packages that address this flaw are being delivered for the actively maintained releases.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.3
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10 cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.2
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in cockpit-files. A local unprivileged attacker can exploit a race condition during directory creation with owner assignment. By controlling a writable parent directory, the attacker can replace a newly created directory with a symbolic link (symlink) before the ownership change operation (chown) is applied. This allows the attacker to redirect the ownership change to an arbitrary file, potentially leading to information disclosure or unauthorized modification of sensitive files.
Title Cockpit-files: cockpit-files: local attacker can hijack file ownership via symlink race
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Weaknesses CWE-363
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 11, 2026, 12:59 PM
Reserved
Sep 14, 2026, 9:59 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 18, 2026, 8:17 PM
Modified
Nov 11, 2026, 1:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 18, 2026, 4:33 PM