CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2008-1694

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

Published: Apr 22, 2008 | Modified: Nov 21, 2024
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
4.6 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
LOW

vcdiff in Emacs 20.7 to 22.1.50, when used with SCCS, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

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

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Emacs Gnu 20.7 (including) 20.7 (including)
Emacs Gnu 21.1 (including) 21.1 (including)
Emacs Gnu 21.2 (including) 21.2 (including)
Emacs Gnu 21.3 (including) 21.3 (including)
Emacs Gnu 21.4 (including) 21.4 (including)
Sccs Gnu * *
Emacs21 Ubuntu dapper *
Emacs21 Ubuntu feisty *
Emacs21 Ubuntu gutsy *
Emacs21 Ubuntu hardy *
Emacs21 Ubuntu upstream *
Emacs22 Ubuntu devel *
Emacs22 Ubuntu gutsy *
Emacs22 Ubuntu hardy *
Emacs22 Ubuntu intrepid *
Emacs22 Ubuntu jaunty *
Emacs22 Ubuntu karmic *
Emacs22 Ubuntu upstream *
Xemacs21 Ubuntu dapper *
Xemacs21 Ubuntu feisty *
Xemacs21 Ubuntu gutsy *
Xemacs21 Ubuntu hardy *
Xemacs21 Ubuntu upstream *

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