Vulnerabilities
Misconfiguration
Runtime Security
Compliance
CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2008-5157

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

Published: Nov 18, 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
Additional information
NVDhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5157
CWEhttps://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/59.html

tau 2.16.4 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) /tmp/makefile.tau..##### or (2) /tmp/makefile.tau.##### temporary file, related to the (a) tau_cxx, (b) tau_f90, and (c) tau_cc 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
Tau Uoregon 2.16.4 (including) 2.16.4 (including)
Tau Ubuntu dapper *
Tau Ubuntu gutsy *
Tau Ubuntu hardy *
Tau Ubuntu intrepid *
Tau Ubuntu jaunty *
Tau Ubuntu karmic *
Tau 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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