# CVE-2026-35362: uutils coreutils TOCTOU symlink race in safe_traversal on non-Linux Unix

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35362-uutils-coreutils-toctou-symlink-race-in-safe-traversal-on-non  
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-2026-35362 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.6 · Published 2026-04-22

A security feature in the uutils coreutils library, designed to prevent attackers from manipulating files during system operations, was accidentally disabled on non-Linux systems like macOS and FreeBSD. This could allow a local attacker to trick system utilities into modifying or accessing files they shouldn't by using symbolic link races. While the risk is low and requires precise timing, it undermines the security of file operations on affected platforms.

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-2026-35362 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35362 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35362?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.6, published 22 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** uucore (crates.io) < 0.6.0, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=0.6.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35362?** Yes. uucore (crates.io): upgrade to 0.6.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-35362 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35362?** Check whether you run uucore (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

- uucore (crates.io): upgrade to 0.6.0 or later

  ```sh
  cargo update -p uucore
  ```


## Technical details

The safe_traversal module in uucore (uutils coreutils) implements protection against Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) symlink races by using file-descriptor-relative syscalls (e.g., openat). However, these protections were gated behind a #[cfg(target_os = "linux")] attribute. On other Unix-like systems such as macOS and FreeBSD, the library reverted to unsafe traversal methods. A local attacker could exploit this race condition during directory traversal operations (used by utilities like 'rm', 'chmod', and 'du') to redirect file operations to unintended targets via symlinks. The issue is fixed in version 0.6.0 by expanding the feature guards to all Unix platforms.

## Affected products

- uutils uucore < 0.6.0
- uutils coreutils < 0.6.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-35362
- GHSA-w6xc-g9qj-vp32

## Timeline

- 2025-12-23: other: Pull request submitted to expand safe traversal support
- 2026-01-09: patched: Fix merged into main branch
- 2026-05-30: advisory: Initial advisory published
- 2026-07-06: disclosed: GitHub Advisory published

## References

- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/security/advisories/GHSA-w6xc-g9qj-vp32](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/security/advisories/GHSA-w6xc-g9qj-vp32)
- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/9792](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/9792)
- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/commit/30239e69a328e76d2377f2a0bc02fbde61c34280](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/commit/30239e69a328e76d2377f2a0bc02fbde61c34280)
- [https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/releases/tag/0.6.0](https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/releases/tag/0.6.0)
- [https://api.github.com/repos/uutils/coreutils/security-advisories/GHSA-w6xc-g9qj-vp32](https://api.github.com/repos/uutils/coreutils/security-advisories/GHSA-w6xc-g9qj-vp32)

## Related threats

- [uutils coreutils silent data loss via disabled backup mode in multiple utilities](https://junglewise.ai/threats/uutils-coreutils-silent-data-loss-via-disabled-backup-mode-in-multiple-efe39da5)
- [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)