---
id: "CVE-2026-116189"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-116189"]
title: "rclone: self-update trusts unsigned checksums, installing attacker-supplied binaries"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.7
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["linux", "macos", "package", "rclone", "self-hosted", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["no-selfupdate", "package-manager-install", "pinned-version"]
published_at: "2026-10-25T14:16:59+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-25T14:41:23+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T14:42:31+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116189", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-25T14:41:23+00:00"}]
---

# rclone: self-update trusts unsigned checksums, installing attacker-supplied binaries

rclone's stable selfupdate accepts checksum lines placed before the PGP-signed SHA256SUMS block, so the signature check does not cover them. An attacker who controls the release distribution path can make selfupdate install a malicious rclone executable.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Run `rclone version` and confirm the installed version is below `1.75.2`.
- Check whether the install was made or updated with `rclone selfupdate` (stable channel).

## Fix

- Upgrade rclone to `1.75.2` or later.
- Until upgraded, avoid running `rclone selfupdate` and reinstall from a trusted package manager or verified release.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-25T14:41:23+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-116189

## From the sources

rclone from 1.55.0 before 1.75.2 contains a signature verification bypass in stable selfupdate that trusts checksums from unsigned bytes preceding the PGP-clearsigned SHA256SUMS block. Attackers controlling the release distribution path can prepend an unsigned checksum line matching a malicious archive, causing selfupdate to install an attacker-controlled rclone executable.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_