CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2007-3103

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Published: Jul 15, 2007 | Modified: Apr 09, 2025
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
6.2 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
MEDIUM
root.io logo minimus.io logo echo.ai logo

The init.d script for the X.Org X11 xfs font server on various Linux distributions might allow local users to change the permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/.font-unix temporary file.

Weakness

The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.

Affected Software

NameVendorStart VersionEnd Version
Fedora_coreFedoraproject6.0 (including)6.0 (including)
Enterprise_linuxRedhat4.0 (including)4.0 (including)
Enterprise_linux_desktopRedhat4.0 (including)4.0 (including)
LinuxRedhat**
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4RedHatxorg-x11-0:6.8.2-1.EL.19*
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5RedHatxorg-x11-xfs-1:1.0.2-4*
XfsUbuntudapper*
XfsUbuntudevel*
XfsUbuntuedgy*
XfsUbuntufeisty*
XfsUbuntugutsy*
XfsUbuntuhardy*
XfsUbuntuintrepid*
XfsUbuntujaunty*
XfsUbuntukarmic*

Potential Mitigations

  • Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
  • Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.

References