CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2012-5355

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

Published: Oct 10, 2012 | Modified: Aug 29, 2017
CVSS 3.x
N/A
Source:
NVD
CVSS 2.x
3.3 LOW
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
RedHat/V2
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
LOW

welcome.py in xdiagnose before 2.5.2ubuntu0.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file with a predictable name in /tmp.

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
Xdiagnose Bryce_harrington * 2.5 (including)
Xdiagnose Bryce_harrington 0.2-0ubuntu2 (including) 0.2-0ubuntu2 (including)
Xdiagnose Bryce_harrington 1.6 (including) 1.6 (including)
Xdiagnose Bryce_harrington 1.6.1 (including) 1.6.1 (including)
Xdiagnose Ubuntu precise *
Xdiagnose 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