Vulnerabilities
Misconfiguration
Runtime Security
Compliance
CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2008-5138

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

Published: Nov 18, 2008 | Modified: Nov 21, 2024
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
Additional information
NVDhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5138
CWEhttps://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/59.html

passwdehd in libpam-mount 0.43 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/passwdehd.##### 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

Name Vendor Start Version End Version
Libpam_mount Bkleineidam 0.43 (including) 0.43 (including)
Libpam-mount Ubuntu dapper *
Libpam-mount Ubuntu gutsy *
Libpam-mount Ubuntu hardy *
Libpam-mount Ubuntu intrepid *
Libpam-mount 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

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