# CVE-2026-35356: uutils coreutils symlink race in install -D directory creation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35356-uutils-coreutils-symlink-race-in-install-d-directory-creation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-22. Updated: 2026-07-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35356 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.3 · Published 2026-04-22

A vulnerability in the 'install' utility of the Rust-based uutils coreutils allows a local attacker to overwrite arbitrary files on the system. By exploiting a timing window during directory creation, an attacker can redirect file writes to unintended locations, such as sensitive system files. This could lead to a complete system compromise if the utility is run with elevated (root) privileges.

Technologies: [Uutils Coreutils](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/uutils-coreutils). Vendors: [crates.io](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/crates-io), [Uutils](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/uutils).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35356 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35356 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35356?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.3, published 22 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** uu_install (crates.io) < 0.7.0, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=0.7.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35356?** Yes. uu_install (crates.io): upgrade to 0.7.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-35356 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35356?** Check whether you run uu_install (crates.io) or Uutils Coreutils at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- uu_install (crates.io): upgrade to 0.7.0 or later

  ```sh
  cargo update -p uu_install
  ```


## Technical details

A Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition exists in the `install` utility of `uutils/coreutils` when using the `-D` flag. The implementation uses `fs::create_dir_all` followed by path-based `File::create` or `fs::copy` operations, neither of which are anchored to a directory file descriptor. A local attacker with concurrent write access to the destination tree can replace a path component with a symbolic link between the directory creation and the file write. This redirects the privileged write to an arbitrary location on the filesystem. The fix involves migrating to `dirfd`-based operations (`openat`, `mkdirat`) with `O_NOFOLLOW` to ensure path resolution is securely anchored.

## Affected products

- uutils coreutils (uu_install) < 0.7.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-35356
- GHSA-gwm6-q8ch-hcfr

## Timeline

- 2026-01-09: other: Fix submitted via Pull Request 10140
- 2026-01-20: disclosed: Reported by Zellic in security assessment
- 2026-02-14: patched: Fix merged into main branch
- 2026-05-30: advisory: Initial GitHub Advisory published
- 2026-07-06: advisory: Advisory updated and reviewed

## References

- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/security/advisories/GHSA-gwm6-q8ch-hcfr](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/security/advisories/GHSA-gwm6-q8ch-hcfr)
- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/10140](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/10140)
- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/commit/0c41299975f3c1e21cf5ca968d42cad55ceb42a1](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/commit/0c41299975f3c1e21cf5ca968d42cad55ceb42a1)
- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/releases/tag/0.7.0](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/releases/tag/0.7.0)
- [https://api.github.com/repos/uutils/coreutils/security-advisories/GHSA-gwm6-q8ch-hcfr](https://api.github.com/repos/uutils/coreutils/security-advisories/GHSA-gwm6-q8ch-hcfr)

## Related threats

- [uutils coreutils Incorrect Provision of Specified Functionality in cut](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35381-uutils-coreutils-incorrect-provision-of-specified-functionality)
- [uutils coreutils has an Improper Input Validation Issue in its cut Utility](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35380-uutils-coreutils-has-an-improper-input-validation-issue-in-its)
- [A logic error in the tr utility of uutils coreutils causes the program to incorrectly define the [:graph:] and [:print:] character classes.](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35379-uutils-coreutils-has-an-incorrect-provision-of-specified)
- [uutils coreutils has an Incorrect Short Circuit Evaluation Issue](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35378-uutils-coreutils-has-an-incorrect-short-circuit-evaluation-issue)
- [uutils coreutils has an Improper Input Validation Issue in its env Utility](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35377-uutils-coreutils-has-an-improper-input-validation-issue-in-its)