---
title: "CVE-2026-85526: Canonical LXD - Path Traversal"
description: "Canonical LXD on Linux contains a path traversal caused by crafted subvolumes[].path entry in backup/optimized_header.yaml during btrfs optimized backup import, letting authenticated users with instance creation privileges delete or replace arbitrary files as root."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-85526/
---

# CVE-2026-85526 Canonical LXD - Path Traversal

Canonical LXD on Linux contains a path traversal caused by crafted subvolumes\[\].path entry in backup/optimized\_header.yaml during btrfs optimized backup import, letting authenticated users with instance creation privileges delete or replace arbitrary files as root.

CVSS base score 9.9 /10

Critical

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.52% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85526)

## Details

Type

Path Traversal

Impact

File System Write, Privilege Escalation

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

28 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-22](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/22.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest version with the fix for this vulnerability.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85526](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85526)
- [https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/105](https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/105)
- [https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/84](https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/84)
- [https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/87](https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/87)
- [https://github.com/canonical/lxd/security/advisories/GHSA-h85r-gjgx-g2rv](https://github.com/canonical/lxd/security/advisories/GHSA-h85r-gjgx-g2rv)
- [https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/103](https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/103)
- [https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/104](https://github.com/canonical/lxd-private/pull/104)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

Panop answers these inside your environment, for this CVE and every other finding.

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