CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2008-4978

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

Published: Nov 06, 2008 | Modified: Aug 08, 2017
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
6.9 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
LOW

radiance 3R9+20080530 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (a) /tmp/opt.fmt, (b) /tmp/out#####.fmt, (c) /tmp/tf#####.dat, (d) /tmp/gsf#####, (e) /tmp/sc#####.sh, (f) /tmp/il#####.pic, (g) /tmp/tl#####.pic, (h) /tmp/ds#####.pic, (i) /tmp/tfa#####, and (j) /tmp/sed##### temporary files, related to the (1) optics2rad, (2) pdelta, (3) dayfact, and (4) raddepend scripts.

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
Radiance Radiance 3-r9 (including) 3-r9 (including)
Radiance Ubuntu hardy *
Radiance 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