# CVE-2019-3691: Local privilege escalation from user munge to root

> Local attackers can escalate privileges from the munge user to root via a symlink following vulnerability in SUSE Linux packaging.

- **Severity:** High 7.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q63p-x3h7-v3p5, SUSE-SU-2019:3190-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1144-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:2670-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:11066-1

## What is CVE-2019-3691?

CVE-2019-3691 is a high-severity vulnerability in SUSE Factory, published on 23 Jan 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in the packaging of munge in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15; openSUSE Factory allowed local attackers to escalate privileges from user munge to root. This issue affects: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 munge versions prior to 0.5.13-4.3.1. openSUSE Factory munge versions prior to 0.5.13-6.1.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-3691?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `munge` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for HPC 12 | All versions | 0.5.14-3.6.1 |
| `munge` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for HPC 15 | All versions | 0.5.13-4.3.1 |
| `munge` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for HPC 15 SP1 | All versions | 0.5.13-4.3.1 |
| `munge` | openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | All versions | 0.5.13-lp151.4.3.1 |
| `munge` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 0.5.14-2.6 |

Products: Opensuse Munge.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-3691?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2019-3691 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-3691 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-3691 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-3691 is a high-severity vulnerability in SUSE Factory, published on 23 Jan 2020. 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-2019-3691 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SUSE Factory. 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-2019-3691/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3691/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-3691
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-3691
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-3691

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3691/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.