CVE-2026-91202: Cockpit-files: cockpit-files: arbitrary file ownership change via symlink following in privileged paste

Severity: medium (CVSS 6.1 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-09-18 · updated 2026-10-19
Weakness: CWE-61

Description

A flaw was found in cockpit-files. A low-privileged local user can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a directory containing a symbolic link (symlink) and then using the privileged "Paste as owner" function. This allows for arbitrary file ownership changes outside the intended pasted directory, leading to a compromise of data integrity. In some cases, this could also lead to reduced confidentiality if the new ownership grants unauthorized read access. Exploitation requires user interaction to select a non-original owner during the paste operation.

Affected products

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10: all versions
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9: all versions — fixed in 0:36.1-1.el9_8

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 0:36.1-1.el9_8. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

Get alerted when CVE-2026-91202 or the next vulnerability affects your stack