# CVE-2018-13054: Path traversal in n/a

> An unprivileged user can overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attacks in the root-run Cinnamon user settings GUI.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-13054, DLA-1420-1, GHSA-6g5m-97v8-hh8j, MGASA-2019-0063, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-13054, USN-4844-1

## What is CVE-2018-13054?

CVE-2018-13054 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 2 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Cinnamon 1.9.2 through 3.8.6. The cinnamon-settings-users.py GUI runs as root and allows configuration of (for example) other users' icon files in _on_face_browse_menuitem_activated and _on_face_menuitem_activated. These icon files are written to the respective user's $HOME/.face location. If an unprivileged user prepares a symlink pointing to an arbitrary location, then this location will be overwritten with the icon content.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-13054?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Linuxmint Cinnamon.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-13054?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-13054 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-13054 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-13054 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-13054 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 2 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-13054 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian 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-2018-13054/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-13054/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-13054
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-13054
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-13054

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-13054/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.