# CVE-2017-7501: Path traversal in rpm

> An attacker with write access to an installation directory can exploit predictable temporary file names to modify arbitrary files via symbolic links, potentially escalating privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** 22 Nov 2017
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-7501, ECHO-6b80-ef11-ae2d, GHSA-3xgr-x5gv-64gh, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-7501

## What is CVE-2017-7501?

CVE-2017-7501 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Red Hat, Inc. rpm, published on 22 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

It was found that versions of rpm before 4.13.0.2 use temporary files with predictable names when installing an RPM. An attacker with ability to write in a directory where files will be installed could create symbolic links to an arbitrary location and modify content, and possibly permissions to arbitrary files, which could be used for denial of service or possibly privilege escalation.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-7501?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Rpm Rpm.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-7501?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-7501 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7501 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat, Inc. rpm

- [CVE-2014-8118](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-8118/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3378](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3378/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2017-7500](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7500/): Path traversal in rpm (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2005-4889](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4889/): Race condition in n/a (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2010-2059](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-2059/): Race condition in n/a (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-7501 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-7501 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Red Hat, Inc. rpm, published on 22 Nov 2017. 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-2017-7501 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Red Hat, Inc. rpm. 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-2017-7501/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7501/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-7501
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7501
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-7501

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7501/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.