CWE-59
AllowedImproper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft
The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
2031 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-CWR2-C5MC-RXV6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-02 00:06 – Updated: 2022-05-02 00:06MySQL before 5.0.67 allows local users to bypass certain privilege checks by calling CREATE TABLE on a MyISAM table with modified (1) DATA DIRECTORY or (2) INDEX DIRECTORY arguments that are originally associated with pathnames without symlinks, and that can point to tables created at a future time at which a pathname is modified to contain a symlink to a subdirectory of the MySQL home data directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-4097.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4098"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-09-18T15:04:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "MySQL before 5.0.67 allows local users to bypass certain privilege checks by calling CREATE TABLE on a MyISAM table with modified (1) DATA DIRECTORY or (2) INDEX DIRECTORY arguments that are originally associated with pathnames without symlinks, and that can point to tables created at a future time at which a pathname is modified to contain a symlink to a subdirectory of the MySQL home data directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-4097.",
"id": "GHSA-cwr2-c5mc-rxv6",
"modified": "2022-05-02T00:06:48Z",
"published": "2022-05-02T00:06:48Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4098"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45649"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10591"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=480292#25"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.mysql.com/bug.php?id=32167"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00001.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/32578"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/32759"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/32769"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/38517"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-897-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1662"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:094"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/09/20"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/16/3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1067.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0110.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1397-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-671-1"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-CWX9-J747-4X45
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-14 18:32 – Updated: 2026-07-14 18:32Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Window PC Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-58636"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-07-14T17:17:13Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027) in Window PC Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-cwx9-j747-4x45",
"modified": "2026-07-14T18:32:12Z",
"published": "2026-07-14T18:32:12Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-58636"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-58636"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-CWXH-WCM5-XRXQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 02:59 – Updated: 2022-05-14 02:59Check_MK through 1.2.5i2p1 allows local users to read arbitrary files via a symlink attack to a file in /var/lib/check_mk_agent/job.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2014-0243"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-19T17:29:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Check_MK through 1.2.5i2p1 allows local users to read arbitrary files via a symlink attack to a file in /var/lib/check_mk_agent/job.",
"id": "GHSA-cwxh-wcm5-xrxq",
"modified": "2022-05-14T02:59:16Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T02:59:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-0243"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1101669"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://secuniaresearch.flexerasoftware.com/advisories/58536"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/532224/100/0/threaded"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.mathias-kettner.de/git/?p=check_mk.git;a=commit;h=0426323df1641596c4f01ef5a716a3b65276f01c"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://git.mathias-kettner.de/git/?p=check_mk.git;a=commit;h=a2ef8d00c53ec9cbd05c4ae2f09b50761130e7ce"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2014-June/134160.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2014-June/134166.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/126857/Check_MK-Arbitrary-File-Disclosure.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2014/May/145"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/05/28/1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/67674"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-F24R-HQQW-W96V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 01:10 – Updated: 2022-05-17 01:10p7zip 9.20.1 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack in an archive.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2015-1038"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2015-01-21T18:59:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "p7zip 9.20.1 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack in an archive.",
"id": "GHSA-f24r-hqqw-w96v",
"modified": "2022-05-17T01:10:40Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T01:10:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1038"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=774660"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1179505"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/99970"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-December/173245.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-December/174245.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-07/msg00000.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3289"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/01/11/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2015-2511963.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/71890"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-F2VX-65MP-R4FP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-06-03 12:30 – Updated: 2025-06-03 12:30A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Snapshot functionality of Parallels Desktop for Mac version 20.1.1 (build 55740). When a snapshot of a virtual machine is taken, a root service writes to a file owned by a normal user. By using a hard link, an attacker can write to an arbitrary file, potentially leading to privilege escalation.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-54189"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59",
"CWE-62"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-06-03T10:15:22Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Snapshot functionality of Parallels Desktop for Mac version 20.1.1 (build 55740). When a snapshot of a virtual machine is taken, a root service writes to a file owned by a normal user. By using a hard link, an attacker can write to an arbitrary file, potentially leading to privilege escalation.",
"id": "GHSA-f2vx-65mp-r4fp",
"modified": "2025-06-03T12:30:31Z",
"published": "2025-06-03T12:30:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-54189"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-2124"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-2124"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-F2WQ-WRC8-9J57
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-03 03:20 – Updated: 2022-05-03 03:20contrib/pdfmark/pdfroff.sh in GNU troff (aka groff) before 1.21 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a pdf#####.tmp temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2009-5044"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2011-06-24T20:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "contrib/pdfmark/pdfroff.sh in GNU troff (aka groff) before 1.21 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a pdf#####.tmp temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-f2wq-wrc8-9j57",
"modified": "2022-05-03T03:20:34Z",
"published": "2022-05-03T03:20:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-5044"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT205031"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=538330"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://cvsweb.openwall.com/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/Owl/packages/groff/groff-1.20.1-owl-tmp.diff"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://cvsweb.openwall.com/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/Owl/packages/groff/groff-1.20.1-owl-tmp.diff.diff?r1=1.1;r2=1.2;f=h"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Aug/msg00001.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/09/1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/10/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/14/4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/14/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/44999"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:085"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:086"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36381"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-F2X5-XV5G-CXFH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-01 18:33 – Updated: 2022-05-01 18:33The web console in CA (formerly Computer Associates) eTrust ITM (Threat Manager) 8.1 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites via a crafted HTTP URL on port 6689.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2007-5437"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2007-10-13T01:17:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The web console in CA (formerly Computer Associates) eTrust ITM (Threat Manager) 8.1 allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites via a crafted HTTP URL on port 6689.",
"id": "GHSA-f2x5-xv5g-cxfh",
"modified": "2022-05-01T18:33:13Z",
"published": "2022-05-01T18:33:13Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-5437"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/43482"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://securityreason.com/securityalert/3219"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.eleytt.com/advisories/eleytt_ETRUSTITM2.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/482021/100/0/threaded"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/26013"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-F2XG-M95Q-882Q
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:46 – Updated: 2022-05-17 03:46A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2012-3440"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2012-08-08T10:26:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-f2xg-m95q-882q",
"modified": "2022-05-17T03:46:33Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:46:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3440"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012:1149"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2012-3440"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=844442"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/54868"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-F3GF-W5H5-PC5J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:13 – Updated: 2025-04-11 04:08(1) contrib/gforge-3.0-cronjobs.patch, (2) cronjobs/homedirs.php, (3) deb-specific/fileforge.pl, (4) deb-specific/group_dump_update.pl, (5) deb-specific/ssh_dump_update.pl, (6) deb-specific/user_dump_update.pl, (7) plugins/scmbzr/common/BzrPlugin.class.php, (8) plugins/scmcvs/common/CVSPlugin.class.php, (9) plugins/scmcvs/cronjobs/cvs.php, (10) plugins/scmcvs/cronjobs/ssh_create.php, (11) plugins/scmgit/common/GitPlugin.class.php, (12) plugins/scmsvn/common/SVNPlugin.class.php, (13) plugins/wiki/cronjobs/create_groups.php, (14) utils/cvs1/cvscreate.sh, and (15) utils/include.pl in FusionForge 5.0, 5.1, and 5.2 allows local users to change arbitrary file permissions, obtain sensitive information, and have other unspecified impacts via a (1) symlink or (2) hard link attack on certain files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2013-1423"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2013-03-14T03:13:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "(1) contrib/gforge-3.0-cronjobs.patch, (2) cronjobs/homedirs.php, (3) deb-specific/fileforge.pl, (4) deb-specific/group_dump_update.pl, (5) deb-specific/ssh_dump_update.pl, (6) deb-specific/user_dump_update.pl, (7) plugins/scmbzr/common/BzrPlugin.class.php, (8) plugins/scmcvs/common/CVSPlugin.class.php, (9) plugins/scmcvs/cronjobs/cvs.php, (10) plugins/scmcvs/cronjobs/ssh_create.php, (11) plugins/scmgit/common/GitPlugin.class.php, (12) plugins/scmsvn/common/SVNPlugin.class.php, (13) plugins/wiki/cronjobs/create_groups.php, (14) utils/cvs1/cvscreate.sh, and (15) utils/include.pl in FusionForge 5.0, 5.1, and 5.2 allows local users to change arbitrary file permissions, obtain sensitive information, and have other unspecified impacts via a (1) symlink or (2) hard link attack on certain files.",
"id": "GHSA-f3gf-w5h5-pc5j",
"modified": "2025-04-11T04:08:21Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:13:24Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1423"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fusionforge.org/plugins/scmgit/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=fusionforge/fusionforge.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=0cc51b3aca51fa915a35195fdf729bcdb903f2af"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fusionforge.org/plugins/scmgit/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=fusionforge/fusionforge.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=1fc730b97c797e03b89cd37823ab345d35286cf4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fusionforge.org/plugins/scmgit/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=fusionforge/fusionforge.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=9937b9d94ab60ff67fe249c1b9a6c8e3fc1778ba"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fusionforge.org/plugins/scmgit/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=fusionforge/fusionforge.git;a=commitdiff;h=0cc51b3aca51fa915a35195fdf729bcdb903f2af"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fusionforge.org/plugins/scmgit/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=fusionforge/fusionforge.git;a=commitdiff;h=1fc730b97c797e03b89cd37823ab345d35286cf4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fusionforge.org/plugins/scmgit/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=fusionforge/fusionforge.git;a=commitdiff;h=9937b9d94ab60ff67fe249c1b9a6c8e3fc1778ba"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/90605"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/52318"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/52371"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2633"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/02/25/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/58143"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-F3WC-6XHJ-WH83
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-09 18:30 – Updated: 2025-12-09 18:30Dell Encryption, versions prior to 11.12.1, contain an Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') vulnerability. A local malicious user could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Elevation of privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-46637"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-09T18:15:52Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Dell Encryption, versions prior to 11.12.1, contain an Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (\u0027Link Following\u0027) vulnerability. A local malicious user could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to Elevation of privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-f3wc-6xhj-wh83",
"modified": "2025-12-09T18:30:45Z",
"published": "2025-12-09T18:30:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-46637"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000394657/dsa-2025-442"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation MIT-48.1
Strategy: Separation of Privilege
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
CAPEC-132: Symlink Attack
An adversary positions a symbolic link in such a manner that the targeted user or application accesses the link's endpoint, assuming that it is accessing a file with the link's name.
CAPEC-17: Using Malicious Files
An attack of this type exploits a system's configuration that allows an adversary to either directly access an executable file, for example through shell access; or in a possible worst case allows an adversary to upload a file and then execute it. Web servers, ftp servers, and message oriented middleware systems which have many integration points are particularly vulnerable, because both the programmers and the administrators must be in synch regarding the interfaces and the correct privileges for each interface.
CAPEC-35: Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
An attack of this type exploits a system's trust in configuration and resource files. When the executable loads the resource (such as an image file or configuration file) the attacker has modified the file to either execute malicious code directly or manipulate the target process (e.g. application server) to execute based on the malicious configuration parameters. Since systems are increasingly interrelated mashing up resources from local and remote sources the possibility of this attack occurring is high.
CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.