# CVE-2026-73102: RustDesk path traversal in macOS clipboard file-paste

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73102-rustdesk-path-traversal-in-macos-clipboard-file-paste  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-26. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-73102 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.7 · Published 2026-08-26

RustDesk is a remote desktop application used to access computers over networks. Versions 1.3.9 through 1.4.9 on macOS contain a flaw in the clipboard file-paste feature that allows a connected remote user to write files outside the intended target directory, potentially overwriting or creating files in sensitive locations. This could enable an attacker to modify application configuration, inject malicious content, or compromise system integrity.

Technologies: [Rustdesk](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/rustdesk). Vendors: [Rustdesk](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rustdesk).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-73102 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-73102 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-73102?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.7, published 26 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Rustdesk 1.3.9 through 1.4.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-73102?** A patch was published on 2026-08-04: Fix merged in commit 6f1eb16 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-73102 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-73102?** Check whether you run Rustdesk 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

The vulnerability is a path traversal flaw in RustDesk's macOS clipboard file-paste handler. The application accepts peer-supplied file descriptor names and joins them to a target directory without validating for normalized relative paths. An attacker can leverage parent-directory components ("../") or absolute paths in the descriptor name to write files outside the intended target directory, as long as those locations are writable by the RustDesk process. Exploitation requires an active clipboard file-paste session with a remote peer. The fix (commit 6f1eb16) adds validation of descriptor names and safe path-joining logic to prevent traversal.

## Affected products

- RustDesk RustDesk 1.3.9 through 1.4.9

## Timeline

- 2026-08-26: disclosed
- 2026-08-04: patched: Fix merged in commit 6f1eb16

## References

- [https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/commit/6f1eb164d616e0e2bfbcf8c6b7c8083b09d7ed06](https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/commit/6f1eb164d616e0e2bfbcf8c6b7c8083b09d7ed06)
- [https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/pull/15693](https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/pull/15693)

## Related threats

- [RustDesk file transfer permission bypass in Cliprdr handler](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-100388-rustdesk-versions-before-1-5-0-fail-to-properly-validate-file)
- [RustDesk uncontrolled memory allocation in BytesCodec](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73108-rustdesk-uncontrolled-memory-allocation-in-bytescodec)
- [RustDesk Windows clipboard redirection buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-76840-rustdesk-windows-clipboard-redirection-buffer-overflow)
- [RustDesk missing authorization in session scope enforcement](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57850-rustdesk-missing-authorization-in-session-scope-enforcement)
- [RustDesk authorization bypass in FileTransfer session](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-58056-rustdesk-authorization-bypass-in-filetransfer-session)