# CVE-2010-0832: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit a symlink vulnerability in the PAM MOTD module to change ownership of arbitrary files, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.9 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **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:** 12 Jul 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3m5q-4mj3-9362

## What is CVE-2010-0832?

CVE-2010-0832 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 12 Jul 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

pam_motd (aka the MOTD module) in libpam-modules before 1.1.0-2ubuntu1.1 in PAM on Ubuntu 9.10 and libpam-modules before 1.1.1-2ubuntu5 in PAM on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS allows local users to change the ownership of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on .cache in a user's home directory, related to "user file stamps" and the motd.legal-notice file.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-0832?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-0832?

No fix has been published for CVE-2010-0832 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2010-0832 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-0832 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Linux PAM 1.1.0 (Ubuntu 9.10/10.04) - MOTD File Tampering Privilege Escalation (1) (exploitdb)
- Linux PAM 1.1.0 (Ubuntu 9.10/10.04) - MOTD File Tampering Privilege Escalation (2) (exploitdb)
- Popcorn HTB write-up covering advanced directory fuzzing, file upload bypass via magic numbers/extension spoofing using Burp Suite, and privilege escalation via CVE-2010-0832 (PAM MOTD File Tampering). (github_poc): https://github.com/R3fr4kt/Popcorn-TJNULL-OSCP-

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-0832 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-0832 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 12 Jul 2010. 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-2010-0832 exists.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu 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-2010-0832/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0832/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-0832
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-0832
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-0832

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0832/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.