CVE-2026-35372
uutils coreutils ln Security Bypass via Improper Handling of the --no-dereference Flag
- Published
- Updated
- Reserved
- Assigned by
- canonical
Description
A logic error in the ln utility of uutils coreutils allows the utility to dereference a symbolic link target even when the --no-dereference (or -n) flag is explicitly provided. The implementation previously only honored the "no-dereference" intent if the --force (overwrite) mode was also enabled. This flaw causes ln to follow a symbolic link that points to a directory and create new links inside that target directory instead of treating the symbolic link itself as the destination. In environments where a privileged user or system script uses ln -n to update a symlink, a local attacker could manipulate existing symbolic links to redirect file creation into sensitive directories, potentially leading to unauthorized file creation or system misconfiguration.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| canonicalCNA (assigner) | 3.1 | Medium5.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N |
| NVDNVD · Analyzed | 3.1 | Medium5.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 0.14% · top 97% of all CVEs (6 Nov 2026)
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation: none · Automatable: no · Technical impact: partial
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Medium 5.0.
Weakness
Affected products
Affected packages
From reviewed advisories of the GitHub Advisory Database.
- crates.iocoreutilsGHSA-wq63-vh5h-pr5p (opens in a new tab)
References (2)
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-wq63-vh5h-pr5p (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
Badge for a README or a ticket
[](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2026-35372)Record last updated .