Metalama is a Roslyn-based open-source patterns and architecture toolkit for C#. Prior to 2025.1.18, 2026.0.25 and 2026.1.19, Metalama.Framework and Metalama.Tool load and execute compile-time assemblies, auxiliary executable tools and embedded helper assemblies from predictable temporary directories. On `Linux` and `macOS`, the default `Path.GetTempPath()` location is world-writable, and existing artifacts are trusted based on sentinel or `.completed` marker files rather than integrity verification. A local unprivileged user on a shared machine or CI/build agent can pre-create the deterministic directory structure and plant a malicious DLL with the matching sentinel. When a higher-privileged developer or build account subsequently builds, Metalama skips regeneration and executes the planted artifact in the compiler, IDE or MSBuild process as the building user. This permits cross-user privilege escalation, reading source and secrets, supply-chain tampering with build output, or disrupting builds. Default Windows per-user temporary directories are protected by ACLs and are not affected. Deployer-selected insecure cache locations are outside the vulnerability's scope. This issue is fixed in versions 2025.1.18, 2026.0.25 and 2026.1.19.

Affected: NuGet: Metalama.Framework, NuGet: Metalama.Tool

## Summary

Metalama loaded and executed compile-time assemblies, auxiliary executable tools, and embedded helper assemblies from predictable temporary directories. On Linux and macOS the default cache location was the world-writable system temporary directory (`Path.GetTempPath()`, i.e. `/tmp`), and previously-generated artifacts were trusted based on the presence of a sentinel/`.completed` marker file rather than on any integrity verification.

A local, unprivileged user on a shared machine or CI/build agent can pre-create the deterministic cache directory structure and plant a malicious DLL together with the matching sentinel file. When a higher-privileged user (or build/service account) subsequently runs a build, Metalama finds the sentinel, skips regeneration, and loads and executes the attacker-supplied assembly inside the compiler / IDE / MSBuild process.

Affected load-and-execute paths: - the cache of compile-time assemblies that Metalama generates from your aspects; - auxiliary executable tools that Metalama extracts to a local directory and then launches; - embedded .NET helper assemblies that Metalama extracts to a local directory and loads into the build / IDE process.

## Impact

Arbitrary code execution in the security context of the building user — i.e. a local privilege escalation across user accounts on shared POSIX systems (multi-user developer machines, CI/build agents). The attacker obtains code execution as the victim without holding the victim's privil…