# CVE-2009-4029: Race condition in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit insecure directory permissions in GNU Automake build trees to inject malicious code or modify package files via a race condition.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.4 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Dec 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2009-4029, GHSA-9xh2-rhpf-vx4p, RHSA-2010:0321, openSUSE-SU-2024:10027-1

## What is CVE-2009-4029?

CVE-2009-4029 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Dec 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The (1) dist or (2) distcheck rules in GNU Automake 1.11.1, 1.10.3, and release branches branch-1-4 through branch-1-9, when producing a distribution tarball for a package that uses Automake, assign insecure permissions (777) to directories in the build tree, which introduces a race condition that allows local users to modify the contents of package files, introduce Trojan horse programs, or conduct other attacks before the build is complete.

Weakness: CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-4029?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `automake` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:1.9.6-2.3.el5 |
| `automake14` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:1.4p6-13.el5.1 |
| `automake15` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:1.5-16.el5.2 |
| `automake16` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:1.6.3-8.el5.1 |
| `automake17` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:1.7.9-7.el5.2 |
| `automake` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:1.9.6-2.3.el5 |
| `automake14` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:1.4p6-13.el5.1 |
| `automake15` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:1.5-16.el5.2 |
| `automake16` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:1.6.3-8.el5.1 |
| `automake17` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:1.7.9-7.el5.2 |
| `automake` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 1.4.17-5.7 |

Products: Gnu Automake.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-4029?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2009-4029 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-4029 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2012-3386](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-3386/): Race condition in n/a (medium 4.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-4029 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-4029 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Dec 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-4029 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2009-4029/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4029/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-4029
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-4029
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-4029

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4029/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.