attr before version 2.6.0 contains a symlink traversal vulnerability in the getfattr and setfattr utilities that allows local attackers to escalate privileges by replacing a pathname component with a symbolic link during directory hierarchy traversal. Attackers who control a pathname component can redirect getfattr and setfattr operations to arbitrary files by substituting a symlink, leading to local privilege escalation when getfattr or setfattr is invoked by a privileged process over an attacker-controlled path.
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.
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.
Related Attack Patterns
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/132.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/17.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/35.html
- https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/76.html
References
- https://cgit.git.savannah.nongnu.org/cgit/attr.git/commit/?id=49f79e947270f06940b9100fa638f85dddc4aa7f
- https://cgit.git.savannah.nongnu.org/cgit/attr.git/commit/?id=c440855d6b33446edf4b5eb1a2d892281f15a99b
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/attr-symlink-traversal-privilege-escalation-via-getfattr-setfattr
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-54371
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2490283
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-54371.json