# CVE-2018-17955: Static tempfile name allows overwriting of arbitrary files

> Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files due to a static temporary filename in the SUSE YaST multipath configuration tool.

- **Severity:** Low 2.2 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/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:** 15 Mar 2019
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pc25-pjvp-q59p, SUSE-SU-2020:3231-1, SUSE-SU-2021:0182-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:11533-1

## What is CVE-2018-17955?

CVE-2018-17955 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in SUSE yast2-multipath, published on 15 Mar 2019. 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

In yast2-multipath before version 4.1.1 a static temporary filename allows local attackers to overwrite files on systems without symlink protection

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), CWE-377 (DEPRECATED: Insecure Temporary File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-17955?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `yast2-multipath` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP2 | All versions | 3.1.9-12.3.45 |
| `yast2-multipath` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP3 | All versions | 3.2.2-3.3.30 |
| `yast2-multipath` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP4 | All versions | 3.2.2-3.3.30 |
| `yast2-multipath` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP5 | All versions | 3.2.2-3.3.30 |
| `yast2-multipath` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 4.4.1-1.2 |

Products: Opensuse Yast2-Multipath.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-17955?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-17955 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-17955 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-17955 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-17955 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in SUSE yast2-multipath, published on 15 Mar 2019. 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-2018-17955 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SUSE yast2-multipath. 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-2018-17955/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17955/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17955
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17955
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-17955

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-17955/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.