# CVE-2014-4703: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can read sensitive configuration data via symlink attacks in Nagios Plugins due to improper handling of the extra-opts flag.

- **Severity:** Low 2.1 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **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:** 5 Dec 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v966-mf9p-984g

## What is CVE-2014-4703?

CVE-2014-4703 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Dec 2014. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

lib/parse_ini.c in Nagios Plugins 2.0.2 allows local users to obtain sensitive information via a symlink attack on the configuration file in the extra-opts flag.  NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-4701.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-4703?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Nagios Nagios.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-4703?

No fix has been published for CVE-2014-4703 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2014-4703 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2014-4703 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Nagios Plugins check_dhcp 2.0.2 - Arbitrary Option File Read Race Condition (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2002-1959](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-1959/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2016-0726](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0726/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2008-7313](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7313/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-5009](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5009/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-9565](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9565/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-4703 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-4703 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 5 Dec 2014. 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-2014-4703 exists.

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-2014-4703/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4703/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-4703
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-4703
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-4703

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-4703/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.