Red Hat Enterprise Linux systemd-tmpfiles tmpfiles.d path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Hardened Images and OpenShift Container Platform. The impacted element is an unknown function of the file tmpfiles.d of the component systemd-tmpfiles. Executing a manipulation can lead to path traversal. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-16552. The attack requires local access. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Hardened Images and OpenShift Container Platform (the affected version unknown) and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects an unknown part of the file tmpfiles.d of the component systemd-tmpfiles. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-22. The product 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 product 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. As an impact it is known to affect integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A flaw was found in systemd-tmpfiles. When processing a tmpfiles.d configuration entry that writes to a file, systemd-tmpfiles can follow a symbolic link placed by an unprivileged local user, and an existing safety check does not detect this specific case because it always treats transitions away from the root user as safe. On systems where a tmpfiles.d configuration targets a path an unprivileged user can influence, this could allow that user to redirect a privileged systemd-tmpfiles write to a file of their choosing, though the content written remains determined by the existing configuration rather than by the unprivileged user. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to integrity.

The advisory is available at access.redhat.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-16552 since 07/22/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/22/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1006 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-47736). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Red Hat

Name

• Enterprise Linux
• Hardened Images
• OpenShift Container Platform

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.redhat.com/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion