CVE-2026-35349

The record

A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.

Affected packages

Related vulnerabilities

• GHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg uutils coreutils has a Link Following Issue Via rm Utility Same vulnerability
• GHSA-532v-xp3f-837c uutils coreutils has an Incorrect Provision of Specified Functionality Issue in its cut… Also affects coreutils
• GHSA-6g8r-74qp-6859 uutils coreutils has a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Also affects coreutils
• GHSA-53gr-wmf4-8hh3 uutils coreutils's User Interface (UI) Misrepresents Critical Information Also affects coreutils
• GHSA-5pv5-xh52-hvrp uutils coreutils has an Incorrect Short Circuit Evaluation Issue Also affects coreutils
• GHSA-5v4g-vw9x-h534 uutils coreutils has an Improper Input Validation Issue in its env Utility Also affects coreutils
• GHSA-4wrp-79m8-9m9p uutils coreutils has a Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition Also affects coreutils
• GHSA-fhr3-xh3q-69w6 uutils coreutils has an Incorrect Provision of Specified Functionality Issue Also affects coreutils