Description
A flaw was found in cockpit-files. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to exploit a timing issue, known as a symlink race condition, during privileged file operations such as changing file ownership or permissions. By manipulating directory entries and winning this race, the attacker can redirect these operations to unintended files. This could lead to unauthorized changes in file ownership and permissions on arbitrary files, potentially compromising system integrity and availability by altering system or application states or rendering services unusable.
Published: 2026-09-18
Score: 6 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Until a fixed package is available, avoid performing privileged ownership or permission changes through the Cockpit Files application in directories that are writable by untrusted or low-privileged users. Where possible, restrict or disable superuser-backed file operations (the elevated chown/chmod flows used for file creation, upload, ownership, and permission changes) for shared writable paths, and perform file metadata changes only on trusted directories. Exploitability is substantially reduced when privileged Cockpit sessions do not operate on attacker-writable directories.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 18 Sep 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in cockpit-files. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to exploit a timing issue, known as a symlink race condition, during privileged file operations such as changing file ownership or permissions. By manipulating directory entries and winning this race, the attacker can redirect these operations to unintended files. This could lead to unauthorized changes in file ownership and permissions on arbitrary files, potentially compromising system integrity and availability by altering system or application states or rendering services unusable.
Title Cockpit-files: cockpit-files: arbitrary file ownership and permission modification via symlink race condition
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:N/I:H/A:H'}


Subscriptions

Redhat Enterprise Linux
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-16T12:19:16.460Z

Reserved: 2026-09-14T21:59:00.235Z

Link: CVE-2026-91203

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-21T18:34:11.531Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-09-18T20:17:29.397

Modified: 2026-09-22T19:37:36.747

Link: CVE-2026-91203

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-09-18T16:34:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-91203 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-21T19:24:52Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-363

    Race Condition Enabling Link Following