CVE-2026-54574 json
`proot-distro install` has a Symlink Escape (Arbitrary Host File Write) via Malicious Tar Archive
published 2026-07-29 3 mo ago modified 2026-10-24 15 d ago also GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7 , PYSEC-2026-3608 , EUVD-2026-50408
- cvss
- 8.2
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.2%
- EPSS 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 11%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
proot-distro is a utility for managing proot containers. Prior to version 5.1.5, proot-distro install extracted plain tarball root filesystems through _extract_plain_tar() in proot_distro/commands/install.py and Docker layers through _apply_layer() in proot_distro/helpers/docker.py without validating archive-controlled symlink targets in member.linkname, allowing a malicious archive to plant an absolute host-path symlink and write files through it onto the host filesystem. This issue is fixed in version 5.1.5.
Patch / fix
- pypi proot-distro 5.1.5
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- Proof of concept is public
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 3 mo ago
Exploit prediction
0.21% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 11% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- github.com https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/security/advisories/GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 8.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| OSV | 3.1 | 8.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 8.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypi | proot-distro | <5.1.5 |
5.1.5 |
Affected products
- termux proot-distro
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-61 UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
References
-
github.com
/termux/proot-distro/commit/a96d7a9667f38e45d812614852ee3915d1c0ae45
web
-
github.com
/termux/proot-distro/security/advisories/GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7
exploit, web
-
github.com
/termux/proot-distro/releases/tag/v5.1.5
web
-
github.com
/termux/proot-distro
package
-
pypi.org
/project/proot-distro
package
-
github.com
/advisories/GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7
advisory
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54574
advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2026-54574
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7
- NVD CVE-2026-54574
- OSV PYSEC-2026-3608
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.