# CVE-2001-0109: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attacks in rctab, potentially leading to privilege escalation on SuSE Linux systems.

- **Severity:** Low 1.2 (`AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 May 2001
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q8rh-mh54-r97r

## What is CVE-2001-0109?

CVE-2001-0109 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Suse Suse Linux, published on 7 May 2001. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

rctab in SuSE 7.0 and earlier allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the rctmp temporary file.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2001-0109?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Suse Suse Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2001-0109?

No fix has been published for CVE-2001-0109 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2001-0109 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2001-0109 exists.

Public exploit code:

- SuSE 6.x/7.0 - MkDir Error Handling rctab Race Condition (1) (exploitdb)
- SuSE 6.x/7.0 - MkDir Error Handling rctab Race Condition (2) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Suse Suse Linux

- [CVE-2007-0460](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-0460/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2005-2023](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-2023/): The send_pinentry_environment function in asshelp.c in gpg2 on SUSE Linux 9.3 does not properly handle certain options, which can prevent pi (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-2004](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-2004/): The Live CD in SUSE LINUX 9.1 Personal edition is configured without a password for root, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges via SSH. (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2000-1040](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2000-1040/): Denial of service in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2000-1044](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2000-1044/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2001-0109 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2001-0109 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Suse Suse Linux, published on 7 May 2001. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2001-0109 exists.

Affected product: Suse Suse Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0109/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0109/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2001-0109
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2001-0109
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2001-0109

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0109/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.