LXD Path Traversal allows Arbitrary Host File Read/Write (VM/QEMU Driver)
CVE-2026-16033 Published on August 12, 2026
Arbitrary file read+write on host via templates/ symlink in malicious image
A path traversal vulnerability in LXD allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary host file read or unconstrained file creation. When processing image metadata templates, LXD fails to properly sanitize or restrict template file paths from escaping the instance templates directory (specifically affecting virtual machine / QEMU driver execution paths). An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing a crafted image archive with malicious template directives containing path traversal sequences, causing LXD to access or write files outside the intended template directory on the host system.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-16033 can be exploited with network access, and requires small amount of user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have a high impact on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity, and no impact on availability.
Weakness Type
What is a Directory traversal Vulnerability?
The software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
CVE-2026-16033 has been classified to as a Directory traversal vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-16033
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Affected Versions
Canonical LXD:- Version 4.0.0 and below 4.0.12 is affected.
- Version 5.0.0 and below 5.0.8 is affected.