# CVE-2014-4038: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attacks in ppc64-diag utilities, potentially compromising system integrity.

- **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:** 17 Jun 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-4038, GHSA-8gvg-vxvq-qh2r

## What is CVE-2014-4038?

CVE-2014-4038 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, published on 17 Jun 2014. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

ppc64-diag 2.6.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack related to (1) rtas_errd/diag_support.c and /tmp/get_dt_files, (2) scripts/ppc64_diag_mkrsrc and /tmp/diagSEsnap/snapH.tar.gz, or (3) lpd/test/lpd_ela_test.sh and /var/tmp/ras.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-4038?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Ppc64-Diag Project Ppc64-Diag, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Suse Linux Enterprise Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-4038?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2014-4038 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-4038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Enterprise Linux Server

- [CVE-2014-4039](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4039/): Information disclosure in n/a (low 2.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-4038 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-4038 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, published on 17 Jun 2014. 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-2014-4038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise Linux Server. 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-2014-4038/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4038/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-4038
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4038
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-4038

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4038/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.