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Mallory
Medium

Rsync symbolic-link race condition

IdentifiersCVE-2024-12747CWE-367

CVE-2024-12747 is a race condition in the rsync server's handling of symbolic links. The provided content states that rsync's default behavior is to skip symbolic links, but an attacker can replace a regular file with a symbolic link at a precise time during processing, bypassing that default protection and causing rsync to traverse the symlink. The issue affects the rsync server implementation, not the client application, and is reported in rsync versions 3.3.0 and earlier; other provided context also describes the affected range as >= 3.2.7 and < 3.4.0. This flaw can expose files outside the intended synchronization scope when the daemon processes attacker-controlled or attacker-raceable filesystem content.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can allow sensitive information disclosure by causing rsync to follow a symlink that should have been skipped and read or expose privileged files. Depending on the privileges of the rsync process, this may enable access to files owned by more privileged users and could potentially contribute to privilege escalation.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching is not possible, reduce exposure of the rsync daemon by restricting or blocking access to TCP port 873, limiting rsync service access to trusted hosts or networks, and minimizing the privileges under which the rsync daemon runs. Because exploitation depends on manipulating filesystem objects during transfer, additional hardening includes preventing untrusted local users from modifying synchronized directories and avoiding configurations where attacker-controlled content can be swapped in place during rsync operations.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade rsync to a fixed release. The provided content indicates that the Rsync project released fixes for CVE-2024-12747 and recommends updating affected software according to vendor guidance; one source specifically recommends upgrading to rsync 3.4.0 to remediate the announced rsync CVEs. For distribution-managed systems, install the patched rsync packages supplied by the OS vendor or maintainer.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseAruba Networking Management Software (Airwave)application
HPE Aruba NetworkingManagement Software (Airwave)application
Rsync ProjectRsyncapplication
RsyncProjectRsyncapplication

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Threat actor evidence

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Associated malware

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Detection signatures

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Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity2

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