Description
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
Published: 2026-04-22
Score: 6.7 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Root Deletion
Action: Patch Immediately
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg uutils coreutils has a Link Following Issue Via rm Utility
History

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Uutils
Uutils coreutils
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:uutils:coreutils:*:*:*:*:*:rust:*:*
Vendors & Products Uutils
Uutils coreutils

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
Title uutils coreutils Path-Based Safety Bypass with --preserve-root
Weaknesses CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'}


Subscriptions

Uutils Coreutils
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: canonical

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-22T18:05:13.169Z

Reserved: 2026-04-02T12:58:56.087Z

Link: CVE-2026-35349

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-22T18:05:04.439Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-04-22T17:16:37.190

Modified: 2026-04-27T12:28:17.903

Link: CVE-2026-35349

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-28T15:30:34Z

Weaknesses