Vulnerabilities
Misconfiguration
Compliance
CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2008-5150

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

Published: Nov 18, 2008 | Modified: Apr 09, 2025
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
NEGLIGIBLE
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Additional information
NVDhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5150
CWEhttps://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/59.html

sample.sh in maildirsync 1.1 allows local users to append data to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/maildirsync-*.#####.log 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
MaildirsyncJose_carlos_medeiros1.1 (including)1.1 (including)
MaildirsyncUbuntuartful*
MaildirsyncUbuntubionic*
MaildirsyncUbuntucosmic*
MaildirsyncUbuntudapper*
MaildirsyncUbuntudevel*
MaildirsyncUbuntudisco*
MaildirsyncUbuntueoan*
MaildirsyncUbuntuesm-apps/bionic*
MaildirsyncUbuntuesm-apps/focal*
MaildirsyncUbuntuesm-apps/jammy*
MaildirsyncUbuntuesm-apps/noble*
MaildirsyncUbuntuesm-apps/xenial*
MaildirsyncUbuntufocal*
MaildirsyncUbuntugroovy*
MaildirsyncUbuntugutsy*
MaildirsyncUbuntuhardy*
MaildirsyncUbuntuhirsute*
MaildirsyncUbuntuimpish*
MaildirsyncUbuntuintrepid*
MaildirsyncUbuntujammy*
MaildirsyncUbuntujaunty*
MaildirsyncUbuntukarmic*
MaildirsyncUbuntukinetic*
MaildirsyncUbuntulucid*
MaildirsyncUbuntulunar*
MaildirsyncUbuntumantic*
MaildirsyncUbuntumaverick*
MaildirsyncUbuntunatty*
MaildirsyncUbuntunoble*
MaildirsyncUbuntuoneiric*
MaildirsyncUbuntuoracular*
MaildirsyncUbuntuplucky*
MaildirsyncUbuntuprecise*
MaildirsyncUbuntuquantal*
MaildirsyncUbuntuquesting*
MaildirsyncUbunturaring*
MaildirsyncUbuntusaucy*
MaildirsyncUbuntutrusty*
MaildirsyncUbuntuutopic*
MaildirsyncUbuntuvivid*
MaildirsyncUbuntuwily*
MaildirsyncUbuntuxenial*
MaildirsyncUbuntuyakkety*
MaildirsyncUbuntuzesty*

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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