# CVE-2026-41176: Rclone authentication bypass in Remote Control options/set endpoint

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41176-rclone-authentication-bypass-in-remote-control-options-set  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-23. Updated: 2026-06-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-41176 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-04-23

Rclone, a popular tool for syncing files with cloud storage, contains a security flaw in its Remote Control (RC) interface. An unauthenticated attacker can remotely disable security checks on the management interface, allowing them to view sensitive configurations, access stored files, or execute unauthorized commands. This risk is highest for users who have enabled the remote control API without setting a global password.

Technologies: [github.com/rclone/rclone (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-rclone-rclone), [Rclone](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/rclone). Vendors: [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go), [Rclone](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rclone).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-41176 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41176 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-41176?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 23 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/rclone/rclone (Go) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.73.5, SEMVER:introduced=1.45.0,fixed=1.73.5; Rclone >= 1.45.0, < 1.73.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41176?** Yes. github.com/rclone/rclone (Go): upgrade to 1.73.5 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-41176 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-41176?** Check whether you run github.com/rclone/rclone (Go) or Rclone 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

- github.com/rclone/rclone (Go): upgrade to 1.73.5 or later

  ```sh
  go get github.com/rclone/rclone@v1.73.5
  ```


## Technical details

The Rclone Remote Control (RC) API endpoint 'options/set' is incorrectly exposed without the 'AuthRequired' flag. An unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted request to this endpoint to set 'rc.NoAuth=true', which modifies the global runtime configuration and disables authentication requirements for all other RC methods. Once the authorization gate is disabled, the attacker can access sensitive administrative endpoints such as 'config/dump', 'operations/copyfile', and 'core/command', potentially leading to credential disclosure, arbitrary file manipulation, and remote command execution. This vulnerability affects Rclone instances where the RC API is enabled and reachable without global HTTP authentication (e.g., missing --rc-user/--rc-pass). The issue is patched in version 1.73.5.

## Affected products

- rclone rclone >= 1.45.0, < 1.73.5

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-41176
- GHSA-25qr-6mpr-f7qx
- GO-2026-4964

## Timeline

- 2026-04-19: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-04-23: disclosed: CVE published to NVD
- 2026-04-23: patched: Version 1.73.5 released with fix

## References

- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/config.go](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/config.go)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/rcserver/rcserver.go)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/security/advisories/GHSA-25qr-6mpr-f7qx](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/security/advisories/GHSA-25qr-6mpr-f7qx)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-41176](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-41176)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460989](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460989)
- [https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-41176.json](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-41176.json)

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