Symlink Following Affecting libvirt-admin package, versions <0:4.5.0-36.amzn2.3.5


Severity

Recommended
high

Based on Amazon Linux security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
0.16% (6th percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-AMZN2-LIBVIRTADMIN-20244792
  • published29 Sept 2026
  • disclosed11 Sept 2026

Introduced: 11 Sep 2026

CVE-2026-77159  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-61  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Amazon-Linux:2 libvirt-admin to version 0:4.5.0-36.amzn2.3.5 or higher.
This issue was patched in ALAS2-2026-3932.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream libvirt-admin package and not the libvirt-admin package as distributed by Amazon-Linux. See How to fix? for Amazon-Linux:2 relevant fixed versions and status.

A symlink-following flaw was found in libvirt's qemuTPMEmulatorPrepareHost() function. The function uses a path-based chown() on the swtpm logfile without checking for symbolic links. A local attacker with access to the swtpm account can replace the logfile with a symlink, causing libvirtd (running as root) to transfer ownership of an arbitrary file to the swtpm user.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1