Vulnerability in systemd-tmpfiles (CVE-2026-16552)
Summary
Vulnerability in systemd-tmpfiles (CVE-2026-16552). Data can be tampered with by attackers.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
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.
Source: GitHub Security Advisories (Global) NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-16552 has been found in systemd-tmpfiles.
Data can be tampered with by attackers. CVSS score: 6.3/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "systemd-tmpfiles CVE-2026-16552" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-16552 (systemd-tmpfiles) — CWE-59 / CVSS v3 6.3
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-59) exists in systemd-tmpfiles.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of systemd-tmpfiles.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.3/10). Data can be tampered with by attackers.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'systemd-tmpfiles' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'systemd-tmpfiles' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
systemd-tmpfilesを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-16552 systemd
References
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web secalert@redhat.com
- web secalert@redhat.com
- web secalert@redhat.com
- web secalert@redhat.com
- web github.com