GitHub Advisoryadvisory · crates.io

GHSA-4x34-chg5-mwjj chmod: recursive mode returns exit code 0 even when some files fail (last-file-wins)

MEDIUM Published 2026-07-06 Modified 2026-07-06 Official page ↗
Aliases
CVE-2026-35339
Ecosystem
crates.io
Packages
uu_chmod
Severity
Moderate
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Weaknesses
CWE-252, CWE-253, CWE-755
Reviewed
2026-07-06

Affected packages

• crates.io uu_chmod: < 0.6.0 → fixed in 0.6.0

Description

In `Chmoder::chmod()` the recursive branch overwrites the running result instead of accumulating it, so the exit code reflects only the *last* file processed: ``` if self.recursive { r = self.walk_dir_with_context(file, true); // overwrites r } else { r = self.chmod_file(file).and(r); } ``` PoC: GNU returns 1 when a file fails; uutils returns 0 if the last entry succeeds: ``` $ chmod -R 0755 chmod-bug/root chmod-bug/user # GNU -> ret=1 $ uutils chmod -R 0755 chmod-bug/root chmod-bug/user # -> ret=0 ``` Impact: scripts relying on the exit code get a false success signal while some files retained restrictive/unexpected permissions, leading to access-control misconfigurations. Recommendation: accumulate errors during traversal. Remediation: Acknowledged by Canonical; fixed in commit abd581f6. --- _Reported by Zellic in the *uutils coreutils Program Security Assessment* (prepared for Canonical, Jan 20 2026), audited commit `3a07ffc5a9bd4c283e75afa548ba1f1957bad242`. Finding 3.2. Credit: Zellic._

Related

Alias · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2026-35339 The recursive mode (-R) of the chmod utility in uutils coreutils incorrectly handles exit codes when processing multiple files. vulnerability

Weakness · CWE (3)

  • CWE-252 Unchecked Return Value weakness
  • CWE-253 Incorrect Check of Function Return Value weakness
  • CWE-755 Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions weakness

References