# CVE-2017-5188: OBS worker VM escape via relative symbolic links

> An attacker can read files outside the package source directory during build via relative symbolic links, leaking private information.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Mar 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-5188, GHSA-m6v2-2pmh-qf44, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-5188

## What is CVE-2017-5188?

CVE-2017-5188 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in openSUSE open build service, published on 1 Mar 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The bs_worker code in open build service before 20170320 followed relative symlinks, allowing reading of files outside of the package source directory during build, allowing leakage of private information.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-5188?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Opensuse Open Build Service.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-5188?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-5188 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-5188 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in openSUSE open build service

- [CVE-2022-21949](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21949/): Multiple XXE vulnerabilities in OBS (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2013-3703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3703/): No write permission check in change_role command (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2014-0594](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0594/): CSRF protection incorrectly disabled (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-36777](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36777/): login-proxy sends password to attacker-provided domain (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2011-3178](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3178/): openbuildservice webui code injection (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-5188 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-5188 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in openSUSE open build service, published on 1 Mar 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-5188 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: openSUSE open build service. 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-2017-5188/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5188/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5188
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5188
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-5188

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5188/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.