# LXD restricted project bypass leading to arbitrary command execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/lxd-has-restricted-project-bypass-leading-to-arbitrary-command-9034cd45  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-06. Updated: 2026-11-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

Severity: critical · CVSS 9.9 · Published 2026-11-06

LXD is a container management system that enforces project restrictions to prevent privileged operations. An attacker can bypass these restrictions by creating a malicious container snapshot in an unrestricted project, then moving it to a restricted project and restoring it. This allows arbitrary command execution with root privileges on the host system.

Technologies: [github.com/canonical/lxd (Go)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/github-com-canonical-lxd), [Linux Containers LXD](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/linux-containers-lxd). Vendors: [Go](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/go), [Linux Containers](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/linux-containers).

## Quick answers

**Is This vulnerability exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of This vulnerability being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is This vulnerability?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.9, published 6 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** github.com/canonical/lxd (Go) < 0.0.0-20260630083100-c5184be310b1, SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=0.0.0-20260630083100-c5184be310b1.

**Is there a fix for This vulnerability?** Yes. github.com/canonical/lxd (Go): upgrade to 0.0.0-20260630083100-c5184be310b1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is This vulnerability attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected?** Check whether you run github.com/canonical/lxd (Go) or Linux Containers LXD 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/canonical/lxd (Go): upgrade to 0.0.0-20260630083100-c5184be310b1 or later

  ```sh
  go get github.com/canonical/lxd@v0.0.0-20260630083100-c5184be310b1
  ```


## Technical details

Instance snapshots ignore the restricted.containers.lowlevel=block project setting, permitting abuse of lowlevel hooks such as raw.lxc and raw.qemu to achieve arbitrary command execution. An attacker crafts a snapshot in an unrestricted project with embedded hook commands, transfers it to a restricted project, and restores it to execute those commands as root. The vulnerability stems from insufficient enforcement of project restrictions during snapshot restore operations.

## Affected products

- Linux Containers LXD

## Timeline

- 2026-11-06: disclosed

## Related threats

- [LXD project restriction bypass in custom volume copy](https://junglewise.ai/threats/lxd-has-project-restriction-bypass-for-custom-volume-copy-across-d414fa7a)
- [LXD project restriction bypass in instance copy](https://junglewise.ai/threats/lxd-has-project-restriction-bypass-in-instance-copy-across-projects-48d466e0)
- [Incus arbitrary file write via trusted image hash](https://junglewise.ai/threats/lxd-has-arbitrary-file-write-on-client-due-to-trusted-image-hash-072dacee)
- [LXD argument injection in backup compression algorithm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/lxd-has-argument-injection-in-backup-compression-algorithm-leading-to-50a60f2a)
- [LXD arbitrary file read and write via symlink in container image](https://junglewise.ai/threats/lxd-has-arbitrary-file-read-write-on-host-via-rootfs-symlink-in-6c2d77f1)