GitHub Advisoryadvisory · crates.io

GHSA-h444-6j9x-p8vh mv: symlinks expanded during cross-device move (resource exhaustion / data duplication)

MEDIUM Published 2026-07-06 Modified 2026-07-06 Official page ↗
Aliases
CVE-2026-35365
Ecosystem
crates.io
Packages
uu_mv
Severity
Moderate
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L
Weaknesses
CWE-400, CWE-59
Reviewed
2026-07-06

Affected packages

• crates.io uu_mv: < 0.7.0 → fixed in 0.7.0

Description

When moving directories across filesystems, uutils `mv` dereferences symlinks inside the tree, copying their targets as real files/dirs instead of preserving the symlinks. GNU preserves symlinks by default. E.g. a `etc_link -> /etc` inside the source becomes a full copy of `/etc` at the destination. Impact: (1) resource exhaustion — a small tree can expand into a huge copy (time/disk DoS); (2) unintended duplication of sensitive paths referenced by symlink; (3) symlink-loop amplification causing deep recursion. Recommendation: in cross-device fallback, detect symlinks via `symlink_metadata()` and recreate with `read_link()`/`symlink()`; add loop detection. Remediation: Acknowledged by Canonical; fixed in commit 9654e4ab. --- _Reported by Zellic in the *uutils coreutils Program Security Assessment* (prepared for Canonical, Jan 20 2026), audited commit `3a07ffc5a9bd4c283e75afa548ba1f1957bad242`. Finding 3.63. Credit: Zellic._

Related

Alias · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2026-35365 The mv utility in uutils coreutils improperly handles directory trees containing symbolic links during moves across filesystem boundaries. vulnerability

Weakness · CWE (2)

  • CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption weakness
  • CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access weakness

References