# CVE-2026-54574: termux proot-distro symlink escape in archive extraction

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-54574-termux-proot-distro-symlink-escape-in-archive-extraction  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-29. Updated: 2026-07-29  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-54574 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.2 · Published 2026-07-29

proot-distro is a utility used to manage Linux distributions within a container-like environment on Android. A security flaw allows a specially crafted container image or archive to break out of its intended directory and write files directly onto the user's device. If a user attempts to install a malicious archive, an attacker could gain persistent control over the user's terminal environment by overwriting sensitive configuration files.

Technologies: [proot-distro (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/proot-distro). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-54574 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-54574 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-54574?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.2, published 29 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** proot-distro (PyPI) <= 5.1.4, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=5.1.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-54574?** Yes. proot-distro (PyPI): upgrade to 5.1.5 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-54574 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-54574?** Check whether you run proot-distro (PyPI) 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

- proot-distro (PyPI): upgrade to 5.1.5 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "proot-distro>=5.1.5"
  ```


## Technical details

A symlink escape vulnerability exists in proot-distro's archive extraction logic within `_extract_plain_tar()` and `_apply_layer()`. While the utility validated member names for directory traversal (e.g., '..'), it failed to validate the `linkname` property of symbolic link members. An attacker can craft a tar archive containing a symlink pointing to an absolute host path, followed by a regular file member that traverses that symlink. During extraction, Python's `os.symlink` creates the link, and subsequent `open()` calls follow it, resulting in an arbitrary file write on the host at the privilege level of the Termux process. This is fixed in version 5.1.5 by implementing a secure path resolver that clamps all symlink hops within the container rootfs.

## Affected products

- termux proot-distro < 5.1.5

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-54574
- GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7
- PYSEC-2026-3608

## Timeline

- 2026-06-06: patched: Fix committed to repository
- 2026-06-07: patched: Version 5.1.5 released
- 2026-06-08: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-07-29: disclosed: CVE published to NVD

## References

- [https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/commit/a96d7a9667f38e45d812614852ee3915d1c0ae45](https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/commit/a96d7a9667f38e45d812614852ee3915d1c0ae45)
- [https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/releases/tag/v5.1.5](https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/releases/tag/v5.1.5)
- [https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/security/advisories/GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7](https://github.com/termux/proot-distro/security/advisories/GHSA-9xq3-3fqg-4vg7)

## Related threats

- [Termux proot-distro container isolation bypass in restore command](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-54727-termux-proot-distro-container-isolation-bypass-in-restore-command)
- [Termux proot-distro path traversal in copy command](https://junglewise.ai/threats/termux-proot-distro-path-traversal-in-copy-command-114d35b8)