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-V5HG-RHM9-PJPH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:20 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:20The Hotspot component in OpenJDK8 as packaged in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and 7 allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2015-3149"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-07-25T18:29:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The Hotspot component in OpenJDK8 as packaged in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and 7 allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack.",
"id": "GHSA-v5hg-rhm9-pjph",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:20:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:20:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-3149"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015:1228"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-3149"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1213365"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1228.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/75933"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V5P6-JX3J-WHPJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:18 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:18flamethrower in flamethrower 0.1.8 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/multicast.tar.##### temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-5141"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-18T16:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "flamethrower in flamethrower 0.1.8 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/multicast.tar.##### temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-v5p6-jx3j-whpj",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:18:05Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:18:05Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5141"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46717"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=506350"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/08/msg00285.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/32891"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/32961"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1676"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32386"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-V5XM-V4C7-6HCJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-01 18:37 – Updated: 2022-05-01 18:37The e_hostname function in commands.c in BitchX 1.1a allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files when using the (1) HOSTNAME or (2) IRCHOST command.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2007-5839"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2007-11-06T19:46:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The e_hostname function in commands.c in BitchX 1.1a allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files when using the (1) HOSTNAME or (2) IRCHOST command.",
"id": "GHSA-v5xm-v4c7-6hcj",
"modified": "2022-05-01T18:37:11Z",
"published": "2022-05-01T18:37:11Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-5839"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/38262"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=449149"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/42061"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/27463"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/31180"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/34870"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200807-12.xml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security\u0026y=2009\u0026m=slackware-security.285737"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/26326"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2007/3714"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-V6HR-647X-CG64
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-21 21:32 – Updated: 2026-07-23 15:30Data::RingBuffer::Shared versions before 0.04 for Perl create a world-readable mmap backing file and open it without O_EXCL or O_NOFOLLOW.
The segment is created in ring.h with open(path, O_RDWR|O_CREAT, 0666). The mode is 0666, so under the default umask 022 the file is created mode 0644 (world-readable). O_NOFOLLOW is absent, so a symlink planted at the path is followed, and O_EXCL is absent, so the open silently uses a pre-planted file instead of failing.
A "Shared" segment naturally lives in a shared directory such as /tmp or /dev/shm, where any local user can read the IPC payloads stored in the world-readable segment, and a pre-planted file or symlink at the path lets a local attacker win a pre-creation race or redirect the open.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-65066"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-07-21T20:17:05Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "Data::RingBuffer::Shared versions before 0.04 for Perl create a world-readable mmap backing file and open it without O_EXCL or O_NOFOLLOW.\n\nThe segment is created in ring.h with open(path, O_RDWR|O_CREAT, 0666). The mode is 0666, so under the default umask 022 the file is created mode 0644 (world-readable). O_NOFOLLOW is absent, so a symlink planted at the path is followed, and O_EXCL is absent, so the open silently uses a pre-planted file instead of failing.\n\nA \"Shared\" segment naturally lives in a shared directory such as /tmp or /dev/shm, where any local user can read the IPC payloads stored in the world-readable segment, and a pre-planted file or symlink at the path lets a local attacker win a pre-creation race or redirect the open.",
"id": "GHSA-v6hr-647x-cg64",
"modified": "2026-07-23T15:30:36Z",
"published": "2026-07-21T21:32:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-65066"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://metacpan.org/release/EGOR/Data-RingBuffer-Shared-0.04/changes"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://metacpan.org/release/EGOR/Data-RingBuffer-Shared-0.04/diff/EGOR/Data-RingBuffer-Shared-0.03#ring.h"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V6PJ-9M3Q-J6M8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:53 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:53** DISPUTED ** master-filter in printfilters-ppd 2.13 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/filter.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating 'this package does not have " possibility of attack with the help of symlinks"'.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-5034"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-10T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "** DISPUTED ** master-filter in printfilters-ppd 2.13 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/filter.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating \u0027this package does not have \" possibility of attack with the help of symlinks\"\u0027.",
"id": "GHSA-v6pj-9m3q-j6m8",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:53:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:53:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5034"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496417"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/printfilters-ppd"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-V6XV-RMQC-WCC8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:45 – Updated: 2023-08-16 22:31The frontend rendering component in TYPO3 4.5.x before 4.5.39, 4.6.x through 6.2.x before 6.2.9, and 7.x before 7.0.2, allows remote attackers to change URLs to arbitrary domains.
An attacker could forge a request which modifies anchor only links on the homepage of a TYPO3 installation such that they point to arbitrary domains, if the configuration option config.prefixLocalAnchors is used with any possible value. TYPO3 versions 4.6.x and higher are only affected if the homepage is not a shortcut to a different page. As an additional pre-condition, URL rewriting must be enabled in the web server (which it typically is) when using extensions like realurl or cooluri.
Installations where config.absRefPrefix is additionally set to any value are not affected by this vulnerability.
Example of affected configuration:
config.absRefPrefix =
config.prefixLocalAnchors = all
page = PAGE
page.10 = TEXT
page.10.value = <a href="#skiplinks">Skiplinks</a>
.htaccess:
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-l
RewriteRule .* index.php [L]
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "typo3/cms"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "4.5.0"
},
{
"fixed": "4.5.39"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "typo3/cms"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "4.6.0"
},
{
"fixed": "6.2.9"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "typo3/cms"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "7.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "7.0.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2014-9508"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2023-08-16T22:31:44Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2015-01-04T21:59:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The frontend rendering component in TYPO3 4.5.x before 4.5.39, 4.6.x through 6.2.x before 6.2.9, and 7.x before 7.0.2, allows remote attackers to change URLs to arbitrary domains.\n\nAn attacker could forge a request which modifies anchor only links on the homepage of a TYPO3 installation such that they point to arbitrary domains, if the configuration option `config.prefixLocalAnchors` is used with any possible value. TYPO3 versions 4.6.x and higher are only affected if the homepage is not a shortcut to a different page. As an additional pre-condition, URL rewriting must be enabled in the web server (which it typically is) when using extensions like realurl or cooluri.\n\nInstallations where `config.absRefPrefix` is additionally set to any value are not affected by this vulnerability.\n\nExample of affected configuration:\n\n```php\nconfig.absRefPrefix =\nconfig.prefixLocalAnchors = all \npage = PAGE \npage.10 = TEXT \npage.10.value = \u003ca href=\"#skiplinks\"\u003eSkiplinks\u003c/a\u003e \n.htaccess:\n\nRewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f \nRewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d \nRewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-l \nRewriteRule .* index.php [L] \n```",
"id": "GHSA-v6xv-rmqc-wcc8",
"modified": "2023-08-16T22:31:44Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:45:52Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-9508"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/typo3/cms/CVE-2014-9508.yaml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://typo3.org/security/advisory/typo3-core-sa-2014-003"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-08/msg00106.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://typo3.org/teams/security/security-bulletins/typo3-core/typo3-core-sa-2014-003"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [],
"summary": "Typo3 Open Redirect In Frontend Rendering"
}
GHSA-V762-X3CF-5MFG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-22 18:31 – Updated: 2026-07-06 20:15Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
A vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -> /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "coreutils"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.7.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-04-29T23:13:17Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-22T17:16:37Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "### Duplicate Advisory\nThis advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-7cr3-h577-g38j. This link is maintained to preserve external references.\n\n### Original Description\nA vulnerability in the rm utility of uutils coreutils allows a bypass of the --preserve-root protection. The implementation uses a path-string check rather than comparing device and inode numbers to identify the root directory. An attacker or accidental user can bypass this safeguard by using a symbolic link that resolves to the root directory (e.g., /tmp/rootlink -\u003e /), potentially leading to the unintended recursive deletion of the entire root filesystem.",
"id": "GHSA-v762-x3cf-5mfg",
"modified": "2026-07-06T20:15:20Z",
"published": "2026-04-22T18:31:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35349"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/9706"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/commit/5e5968cdbc6618acd6c2402a8a98b503f278835e"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/releases/tag/0.7.0"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Duplicate Advisory: uutils coreutils has a Link Following Issue Via rm Utility",
"withdrawn": "2026-07-06T20:15:20Z"
}
GHSA-V7F7-CW7C-4CVQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-07 15:33 – Updated: 2026-09-07 15:33ImageMagick before 7.1.2-30 and 6.9.13-55 contains a time-of-check-time-of-use (TOCTOU) vulnerability in the video decoder that allows attackers to bypass path policy write restrictions via symlink swaps. An attacker can replace a symlink between policy validation (check-time) and the file write operation (use-time) to write to policy-denied locations.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-86424"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-07T13:20:41Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "ImageMagick before 7.1.2-30 and 6.9.13-55 contains a time-of-check-time-of-use (TOCTOU) vulnerability in the video decoder that allows attackers to bypass path policy write restrictions via symlink swaps. An attacker can replace a symlink between policy validation (check-time) and the file write operation (use-time) to write to policy-denied locations.",
"id": "GHSA-v7f7-cw7c-4cvq",
"modified": "2026-09-07T15:33:52Z",
"published": "2026-09-07T15:33:52Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/security/advisories/GHSA-9x6f-98x9-rx6g"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86424"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/imagemagick-before-7.1.2-30-path-traversal-via-toctou-symlink-race"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-V898-P95V-MPMF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-03 03:30 – Updated: 2024-05-03 03:30VIPRE Antivirus Plus TelFileTransfer Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of VIPRE Antivirus Plus. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the TelFileTransfer method. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the method to delete arbitrary files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-19396.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-32178"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-03T02:15:23Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "VIPRE Antivirus Plus TelFileTransfer Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of VIPRE Antivirus Plus. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the TelFileTransfer method. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the method to delete arbitrary files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-19396.",
"id": "GHSA-v898-p95v-mpmf",
"modified": "2024-05-03T03:30:51Z",
"published": "2024-05-03T03:30:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32178"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://success.vipre.com/en_US/antivirus-plus-release-notes/home-plus-release-notes-20230530"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-758"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V8FQ-GCM6-FX7C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-01 18:31 – Updated: 2022-05-01 18:31guilt 0.27 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a guilt.log.[PID] temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2007-5207"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2007-10-04T21:17:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "guilt 0.27 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a guilt.log.[PID] temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-v8fq-gcm6-fx7c",
"modified": "2022-05-01T18:31:05Z",
"published": "2022-05-01T18:31:05Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-5207"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/36970"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=445308"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/41534"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/27076"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/25941"
}
],
"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.