CWE-59
AllowedImproper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft
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.
2244 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-PP74-39W2-V4W9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-08-25 21:01 – Updated: 2023-04-03 19:13pleaseedit in pleaser before 0.4.0 uses predictable temporary filenames in /tmp and the target directory. This allows a local attacker to gain full root privileges by staging a symlink attack.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "pleaser"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.4.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-31154"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-340",
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-06-01T19:34:12Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-27T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "pleaseedit in pleaser before 0.4.0 uses predictable temporary filenames in /tmp and the target directory. This allows a local attacker to gain full root privileges by staging a symlink attack.",
"id": "GHSA-pp74-39w2-v4w9",
"modified": "2023-04-03T19:13:35Z",
"published": "2021-08-25T21:01:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31154"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crates.io/crates/pleaser"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gitlab.com/edneville/please"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gitlab.com/edneville/please/-/tree/master/src/bin"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0102.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/18/1"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Permissions bypass in pleaser"
}
GHSA-PP7J-P833-2H5R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-03 03:25 – Updated: 2022-05-03 03:25The SPICE Firefox plug-in (spice-xpi) 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, and possibly other versions allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the usbrdrctl log file, which has a predictable name.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2011-0012"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2011-04-18T17:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "The SPICE Firefox plug-in (spice-xpi) 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, and possibly other versions allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the usbrdrctl log file, which has a predictable name.",
"id": "GHSA-pp7j-p833-2h5r",
"modified": "2022-05-03T03:25:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-03T03:25:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-0012"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=639869"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-0426.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/47269"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1025304"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0899"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PPGW-CQJ8-9QRG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-10 09:31 – Updated: 2026-09-10 09:31A flaw was found in crun. When the container configuration does not give /dev a dedicated mount, terminal setup can redirect /dev/console onto an attacker-controlled path, including via the read-only-rootfs bind-mount fallback. Affected versions are crun 1.29.1 and earlier. Default configurations that mount a fresh /dev are not exposed. No fixed release is available yet.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-88264"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-10T09:17:03Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A flaw was found in crun. When the container configuration does not give /dev a dedicated mount, terminal setup can redirect /dev/console onto an attacker-controlled path, including via the read-only-rootfs bind-mount fallback. Affected versions are crun 1.29.1 and earlier. Default configurations that mount a fresh /dev are not exposed. No fixed release is available yet.",
"id": "GHSA-ppgw-cqj8-9qrg",
"modified": "2026-09-10T09:31:34Z",
"published": "2026-09-10T09:31:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-88264"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-88264"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2531223"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/containers/crun"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PQ45-CG3M-2P42
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:18 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:18i2myspell in myspell 3.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/i2my#####.1 and (2) /tmp/i2my#####.2 temporary files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4973"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-06T15:55:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "i2myspell in myspell 3.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/i2my#####.1 and (2) /tmp/i2my#####.2 temporary files.",
"id": "GHSA-pq45-cg3m-2p42",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:18:28Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:18:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4973"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44830"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496392"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/myspell-tools"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.lenny.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30929"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PQMW-HQ69-W92W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-02 00:07 – Updated: 2022-05-02 00:07The IPSEC livetest tool in Openswan 2.4.12 and earlier, and 2.6.x through 2.6.16, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and execute arbitrary code via a symlink attack on the (1) ipseclive.conn and (2) ipsec.olts.remote.log temporary files. NOTE: in many distributions and the upstream version, this tool has been disabled.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4190"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-09-24T11:42:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The IPSEC livetest tool in Openswan 2.4.12 and earlier, and 2.6.x through 2.6.16, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and execute arbitrary code via a symlink attack on the (1) ipseclive.conn and (2) ipsec.olts.remote.log temporary files. NOTE: in many distributions and the upstream version, this tool has been disabled.",
"id": "GHSA-pqmw-hq69-w92w",
"modified": "2022-05-02T00:07:41Z",
"published": "2022-05-02T00:07:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4190"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=460425"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45250"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10078"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/9135"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=496374"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/openswan"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/34182"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/34472"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1760"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0402.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501624/100/0/threaded"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501640/100/0/threaded"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31243"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PQQC-X6XH-C6H5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-02 00:05 – Updated: 2022-05-02 00:05test.sh in Honeyd 1.5c might allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-3928"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-09-04T18:41:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "test.sh in Honeyd 1.5c might allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-pqqc-x6xh-c6h5",
"modified": "2022-05-02T00:05:04Z",
"published": "2022-05-02T00:05:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3928"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44735"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=496365"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/honeyd-common"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/31658"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/33141"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-12.xml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.lenny.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30874"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PQRP-P4C6-2Q4G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-11 09:32 – Updated: 2026-09-09 12:31A flaw was found in MRTG. When the MRTG daemon is started as a root user and subsequently drops privileges, a local, low-privileged attacker can exploit a symbolic link (symlink) following vulnerability. By influencing or pre-placing a symlink in the process ID (PID) file path, the attacker can trick the root process into changing the ownership of an arbitrary existing file to the daemon user. This can lead to local privilege escalation, allowing unauthorized access to or modification of sensitive files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-72694"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-08-11T09:17:14Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A flaw was found in MRTG. When the MRTG daemon is started as a root user and subsequently drops privileges, a local, low-privileged attacker can exploit a symbolic link (symlink) following vulnerability. By influencing or pre-placing a symlink in the process ID (PID) file path, the attacker can trick the root process into changing the ownership of an arbitrary existing file to the daemon user. This can lead to local privilege escalation, allowing unauthorized access to or modification of sensitive files.",
"id": "GHSA-pqrp-p4c6-2q4g",
"modified": "2026-09-09T12:31:27Z",
"published": "2026-08-11T09:32:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72694"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57596"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57600"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65832"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-72694"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2460973"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PQVF-H958-3QMW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-29 02:58 – Updated: 2025-04-03 04:01KDE before 3.3.0 does not properly handle when certain symbolic links point to "stale" locations, which could allow local users to create or truncate arbitrary files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2004-0689"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2004-09-28T04:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "KDE before 3.3.0 does not properly handle when certain symbolic links point to \"stale\" locations, which could allow local users to create or truncate arbitrary files.",
"id": "GHSA-pqvf-h958-3qmw",
"modified": "2025-04-03T04:01:15Z",
"published": "2022-04-29T02:58:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0689"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16963"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9334"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a\u0026anuncio=000864"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq\u0026m=109225538901170\u0026w=2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/12276"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200408-13.xml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-539"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.kde.org/info/security/advisory-20040811-1.txt"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PQWF-5W9G-43WG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-02 00:10 – Updated: 2022-05-02 00:10sympa.pl in sympa 5.3.4 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/sympa_aliases.$$ temporary file. NOTE: wwsympa.fcgi was also reported, but the issue occurred in a dead function, so it is not a vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4476"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-10-07T21:11:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "sympa.pl in sympa 5.3.4 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/sympa_aliases.$$ temporary file. NOTE: wwsympa.fcgi was also reported, but the issue occurred in a dead function, so it is not a vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-pqwf-5w9g-43wg",
"modified": "2022-05-02T00:10:30Z",
"published": "2022-05-02T00:10:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4476"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44499"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496405"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494969"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/sympa"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/08/msg00312.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/31458"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.lenny.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30727"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PR3C-47M2-X4HM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:18 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:18xastir 1.9.2 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (a) /tmp/ldconfig.tmp, (b) /tmp/ldconf.tmp, and (c) /tmp/ld.so.conf temporary files, related to the (1) get-maptools.sh and (2) get_shapelib.sh scripts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4987"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-06T15:55:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "xastir 1.9.2 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (a) /tmp/ldconfig.tmp, (b) /tmp/ldconf.tmp, and (c) /tmp/ld.so.conf temporary files, related to the (1) get-maptools.sh and (2) get_shapelib.sh scripts.",
"id": "GHSA-pr3c-47m2-x4hm",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:18:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:18:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4987"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=460429"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44920"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-September/msg00199.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-September/msg00307.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496383"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/xastir"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/31677"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/31771"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.lenny.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31030"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
Mitigation MIT-48.1
Strategy: Separation of Privilege
- 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.
CAPEC-132: Symlink Attack
An adversary positions a symbolic link in such a manner that the targeted user or application accesses the link's endpoint, assuming that it is accessing a file with the link's name.
CAPEC-17: Using Malicious Files
An attack of this type exploits a system's configuration that allows an adversary to either directly access an executable file, for example through shell access; or in a possible worst case allows an adversary to upload a file and then execute it. Web servers, ftp servers, and message oriented middleware systems which have many integration points are particularly vulnerable, because both the programmers and the administrators must be in synch regarding the interfaces and the correct privileges for each interface.
CAPEC-35: Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
An attack of this type exploits a system's trust in configuration and resource files. When the executable loads the resource (such as an image file or configuration file) the attacker has modified the file to either execute malicious code directly or manipulate the target process (e.g. application server) to execute based on the malicious configuration parameters. Since systems are increasingly interrelated mashing up resources from local and remote sources the possibility of this attack occurring is high.
CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.