CVE-2009-5081 Path traversal in n/a
Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attacks on temporary files due to insufficient randomization in GNU troff scripts.
- 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
What is CVE-2009-5081?
CVE-2009-5081 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 30 Jun 2011. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The (1) config.guess, (2) contrib/groffer/perl/groffer.pl, and (3) contrib/groffer/perl/roff2.pl scripts in GNU troff (aka groff) 1.21 and earlier use an insufficient number of X characters in the template argument to the tempfile function, which makes it easier for local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2004-0969.
Weakness: CWE-59
Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-5081?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Gnu Groff.
How do I fix CVE-2009-5081?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2009-5081 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-5081 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in n/a
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2009-5081, GHSA-8mmw-rg27-gmpp.