# CVE-2026-41179: Rclone unauthenticated remote code execution in RC operations/fsinfo

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-41179-rclone-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-in-rc-operations  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-23. Updated: 2026-05-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-41179 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-04-23

Rclone is a command-line tool used to synchronize files between different cloud storage providers. A security flaw in its remote control interface allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the host system. This could lead to full system takeover, data theft, or unauthorized file manipulation if the remote control API is exposed without a 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-2026-41179 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41179 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-41179?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 23 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/ncw/rclone (Go) SEMVER:introduced=1.48.0; github.com/rclone/rclone (Go) >= 1.48.0, <= 1.73.4, SEMVER:introduced=1.48.0,fixed=1.73.5, SEMVER:introduced=1.49.0,fixed=1.73.5; Rclone >= 1.48.0, <= 1.73.4, 1.48.0 to 1.73.4.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41179?** 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-2026-41179 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-41179?** Check whether you run github.com/ncw/rclone (Go), 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 'operations/fsinfo' was registered without the 'AuthRequired: true' flag, allowing unauthenticated access. This endpoint accepts an 'fs' parameter that supports inline backend definitions. An attacker can provide a crafted WebDAV backend configuration that includes the 'bearer_token_command' option. During backend initialization, Rclone executes the string provided in 'bearer_token_command' as a system command. This allows for single-request unauthenticated local command execution on any Rclone deployment where the RC API is reachable and global HTTP authentication is not enabled. The issue is fixed in version 1.73.5 by enforcing authentication on the affected endpoint.

## Affected products

- Rclone Rclone 1.48.0 to 1.73.4

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-41179
- GHSA-jfwf-28xr-xw6q
- GO-2026-5466

## Timeline

- 2026-04-19: patched: Version 1.73.5 released
- 2026-04-19: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-jfwf-28xr-xw6q published
- 2026-04-23: disclosed: CVE-2026-41179 published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/backend/webdav/webdav.go](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/backend/webdav/webdav.go)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/operations/rc.go](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/operations/rc.go)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/cache.go](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/blob/bf55d5e6d37fd86164a87782191f9e1ffcaafa82/fs/rc/cache.go)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/commit/2a9e952b38e03a96bf40c9eb6e8e22199865ee3b](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/commit/2a9e952b38e03a96bf40c9eb6e8e22199865ee3b)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/releases/tag/v1.73.5](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/releases/tag/v1.73.5)
- [https://github.com/rclone/rclone/security/advisories/GHSA-jfwf-28xr-xw6q](https://github.com/rclone/rclone/security/advisories/GHSA-jfwf-28xr-xw6q)
- [https://rclone.org/changelog/](https://rclone.org/changelog/)

## Related threats

- [Rclone B2 backend credential exposure on HTTP redirects](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116196-rclone-before-v1-75-2-contains-a-credential-exposure)
- [Rclone path traversal in translateLink function](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116195-rclone-before-1-75-2-contains-a-path-traversal-vulnerability-in)
- [Rclone cross-site request forgery in pCloud OAuth callback](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116194-rclone-from-1-52-0-before-1-75-2-contains-a-cross-site-request)
- [Rclone serve webdav authentication bypass via OPTIONS requests](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116193-rclone-from-1-64-0-before-1-75-2-contains-an-authentication)
- [rclone server-side request forgery via --rc-serve scheme-relative roots](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116192-rclone-from-1-37-before-1-74-2-contains-a-server-side-request)