Vulnerabilities
Misconfiguration
Runtime Security
Compliance
CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2008-5156

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
MEDIUM
Additional information
NVDhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5156
CWEhttps://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/59.html

si_mkbootserver in systemimager-server 3.6.3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) /tmp/.inetd.conf or (2) /tmp/pxe.conf..tmp 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
Systemimager-server Dann_frazier 3.6.3 (including) 3.6.3 (including)
Systemimager Ubuntu dapper *
Systemimager Ubuntu gutsy *
Systemimager Ubuntu hardy *
Systemimager Ubuntu intrepid *

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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