# CVE-2026-44508: Rsync integer overflow in compressed-token decoder

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44508-rsync-integer-overflow-in-compressed-token-decoder  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-20. Updated: 2026-07-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-44508 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.1 · Published 2026-07-20

Rsync is a widely used tool for synchronizing and copying files between different systems. A security flaw in how it handles compressed data allows a malicious user to extract sensitive information from the system's memory, including passwords and environment variables. This could lead to a significant data breach or help an attacker bypass other security protections to gain deeper access to the server.

Technologies: [RsyncProject Rsync](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/rsync). Vendors: [RsyncProject](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rsyncproject).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-44508 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44508 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-44508?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 20 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** RsyncProject Rsync < 3.4.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44508?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-44508 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-44508?** Check whether you run RsyncProject Rsync 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.

## Technical details

An integer overflow vulnerability (CWE-190) exists in the rsync receiver's compressed-token decoder. The component fails to check for overflow when accumulating a 32-bit signed counter. A malicious sender can exploit this by sending specially crafted compressed data to trigger the overflow, leading to an out-of-bounds read. This allows the extraction of sensitive data from the process memory, including environment variables, passwords, and stack/heap pointers. The leakage of these pointers can be used to bypass Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), facilitating further exploitation. The issue is fixed in version 3.4.3; a workaround involves disabling compression in rsyncd.conf.

## Affected products

- RsyncProject rsync < 3.4.3

## Timeline

- 2026-05-20: advisory: Initial GitHub advisory published
- 2026-07-20: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-g37v-g3gj-pmwq](https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/security/advisories/GHSA-g37v-g3gj-pmwq)

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