# CVE-2012-0787: Race condition in n/a

> Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files and read sensitive data via race conditions in Augeas backup operations when specific save options are enabled.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`AV:L/AC:H/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:** 23 Nov 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2012-0787, GHSA-8qr9-h3xv-vhx6

## What is CVE-2012-0787?

CVE-2012-0787 is a low-severity vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 23 Nov 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The clone_file function in transfer.c in Augeas before 1.0.0, when copy_if_rename_fails is set and EXDEV or EBUSY is returned by the rename function, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files and obtain sensitive information via a bind mount on the (1) .augsave or (2) destination file when using the backup save option, or (3) .augnew file when using the newfile save option.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-0787?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Augeas Augeas, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-0787?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-0787 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-0787 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Enterprise Linux

- [CVE-2017-7555](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7555/): Memory corruption in augeas (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-2588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-2588/): Hercules Augeas fa.c re_case_expand null pointer dereference (medium 4.8)
- [CVE-2013-6412](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6412/): Misconfiguration in n/a (medium 4.6)
- [CVE-2012-0786](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0786/): Path traversal in n/a (low 3.3)
- [CVE-2012-6607](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6607/): Path traversal in n/a (low 3.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-0787 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-0787 is a low-severity vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 23 Nov 2013. 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-2012-0787 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise 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-2012-0787/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0787/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-0787
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0787
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-0787

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0787/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.