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.
1987 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-W8P2-VHRJ-74P5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-01 23:28 – Updated: 2022-05-01 23:28The write_array_file function in utils/include.pl in GForge 4.5.14 updates configuration files by truncating them to zero length and then writing new data, which might allow attackers to bypass intended access restrictions or have unspecified other impact in opportunistic circumstances.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-0167"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-05-18T14:20:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The write_array_file function in utils/include.pl in GForge 4.5.14 updates configuration files by truncating them to zero length and then writing new data, which might allow attackers to bypass intended access restrictions or have unspecified other impact in opportunistic circumstances.",
"id": "GHSA-w8p2-vhrj-74p5",
"modified": "2022-05-01T23:28:06Z",
"published": "2022-05-01T23:28:06Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-0167"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/42456"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/30088"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/30286"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/g/gforge/gforge_4.5.14-22etch8.diff.gz"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1577"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/29215"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1537/references"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-W8VQ-HJWG-7P95
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:11 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:11The PEAR_REST class in REST.php in PEAR in PHP through 5.6.0 allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) rest.cachefile or (2) rest.cacheid file in /tmp/pear/cache/, related to the retrieveCacheFirst and useLocalCache functions.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2014-5459"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2014-09-27T10:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "The PEAR_REST class in REST.php in PEAR in PHP through 5.6.0 allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) rest.cachefile or (2) rest.cacheid file in /tmp/pear/cache/, related to the retrieveCacheFirst and useLocalCache functions.",
"id": "GHSA-w8vq-hjwg-7p95",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:11:18Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:11:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-5459"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=759282"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-09/msg00024.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-09/msg00055.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/08/27/3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjan2015-2370101.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-W952-587W-J326
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:53 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:53** DISPUTED ** dfxml-invoice in datafreedom-perl 0.1.7 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/zenity temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that the vector is solely "an EXAMPLE used in the manpage."
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4997"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-07T19:36:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "** DISPUTED ** dfxml-invoice in datafreedom-perl 0.1.7 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/zenity temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that the vector is solely \"an EXAMPLE used in the manpage.\"",
"id": "GHSA-w952-587w-j326",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:53:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:53:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4997"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496429"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/datafreedom-perl"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-W9R7-4GWR-J959
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-14 00:31 – Updated: 2026-07-14 00:31FlashAttention through 2.8.3.post1, fixed in commit 0816ef1, contains a symlink attack vulnerability in the download_and_copy() function within hopper/setup.py that extracts NVIDIA toolchain archives without validating symlinks or filtering tar members. A local attacker can pre-plant a symlink in the predictable cache directory to redirect extracted binaries to an attacker-chosen location, enabling arbitrary file write with victim privileges during build time.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-62239"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-07-13T22:16:51Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "FlashAttention through 2.8.3.post1, fixed in commit 0816ef1, contains a symlink attack vulnerability in the download_and_copy() function within hopper/setup.py that extracts NVIDIA toolchain archives without validating symlinks or filtering tar members. A local attacker can pre-plant a symlink in the predictable cache directory to redirect extracted binaries to an attacker-chosen location, enabling arbitrary file write with victim privileges during build time.",
"id": "GHSA-w9r7-4gwr-j959",
"modified": "2026-07-14T00:31:04Z",
"published": "2026-07-14T00:31:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-62239"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Dao-AILab/flash-attention/issues/2637"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Dao-AILab/flash-attention/pull/2702"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Dao-AILab/flash-attention/commit/0816ef12f424c6ec94b057a72c275b14f6e6edb2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/flashattention-symlink-attack-via-tarfile-extractall-in-hopper-setup-py"
}
],
"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:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-W9WQ-P2WH-M5PX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:52 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:52** DISPUTED ** firehol in firehol 1.256 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/.firehol-tmp-#####-- and (2) /tmp/firehol.conf temporary files. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that an attack "would require an attacker to create 1073741824*PID-RANGE symlinks."
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4953"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-05T15:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "** DISPUTED ** firehol in firehol 1.256 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/.firehol-tmp-#####-*-* and (2) /tmp/firehol.conf temporary files. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that an attack \"would require an attacker to create 1073741824*PID-RANGE symlinks.\"",
"id": "GHSA-w9wq-p2wh-m5px",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:52:31Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:52:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4953"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496424"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/firehol"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-W9XP-GH5G-RF6P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:02 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:02Privilege Escalation vulnerability in the File Lock component of McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.32 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges by manipulating a symbolic link in the IOCTL interface.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-23872"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-269",
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-12T09:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Privilege Escalation vulnerability in the File Lock component of McAfee Total Protection (MTP) prior to 16.0.32 allows a local user to gain elevated privileges by manipulating a symbolic link in the IOCTL interface.",
"id": "GHSA-w9xp-gh5g-rf6p",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:02:16Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:02:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23872"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?\u0026id=TS103146"
}
],
"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-WC24-5J7X-RP2X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:27 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:27In KDE Ark before 20.08.1, a crafted TAR archive with symlinks can install files outside the extraction directory, as demonstrated by a write operation to a user's home directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-24654"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-09-02T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "In KDE Ark before 20.08.1, a crafted TAR archive with symlinks can install files outside the extraction directory, as demonstrated by a write operation to a user\u0027s home directory.",
"id": "GHSA-wc24-5j7x-rp2x",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:27:14Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:27:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-24654"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/KDE/ark/commit/8bf8c5ef07b0ac5e914d752681e470dea403a5bd"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1175857"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kde.org/info/security/advisory-20200827-1.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/05/msg00026.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LXMMXNJDYOCJRZTESIUGHG6CS4RJKECX"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YJOZ6YRNPZX5MJGVBMOCOA7N6Z4EU2OK"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202010-06"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-06"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4482-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4759"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00001.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-WC57-W9RC-P4G6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-28 00:32 – Updated: 2025-11-03 21:32This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3. A malicious app may be able to create symlinks to protected regions of the disk.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-24136"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-01-27T22:15:18Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "This issue was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14.7.3. A malicious app may be able to create symlinks to protected regions of the disk.",
"id": "GHSA-wc57-w9rc-p4g6",
"modified": "2025-11-03T21:32:27Z",
"published": "2025-01-28T00:32:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24136"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/122068"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/122069"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/122070"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jan/15"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jan/16"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jan/17"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-WC62-H53H-G8QF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:47 – Updated: 2024-04-04 00:54libqb before 1.0.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack, because it uses predictable filenames (under /dev/shm and /tmp) without O_EXCL.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-12779"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-06-07T20:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "libqb before 1.0.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack, because it uses predictable filenames (under /dev/shm and /tmp) without O_EXCL.",
"id": "GHSA-wc62-h53h-g8qf",
"modified": "2024-04-04T00:54:29Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:47:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-12779"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ClusterLabs/libqb/issues/338"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3610"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1695948"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ClusterLabs/libqb/releases/tag/v1.0.4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ClusterLabs/libqb/releases/tag/v1.0.5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202107-03"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00017.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-07/msg00027.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00031.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/108691"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-WC8X-F5RV-3653
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-27 00:00 – Updated: 2025-11-04 00:30The combination of primitives offered by SMB and AFP in their default configuration allows the arbitrary writing of files. By exploiting these combination of primitives, an attacker can execute arbitrary code.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-22995"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-25T23:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "The combination of primitives offered by SMB and AFP in their default configuration allows the arbitrary writing of files. By exploiting these combination of primitives, an attacker can execute arbitrary code.",
"id": "GHSA-wc8x-f5rv-3653",
"modified": "2025-11-04T00:30:31Z",
"published": "2022-03-27T00:00:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22995"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/01/msg00000.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/11/msg00026.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/55ROUJI22SHZX5EM23QAILZHI67EZQKW"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T5CZZLFOTUP3QYHGHSDUNENGSLPJ6KGO"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XO34FWOIJI6V6PH2XY52WNBBARVWPJG2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/55ROUJI22SHZX5EM23QAILZHI67EZQKW"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T5CZZLFOTUP3QYHGHSDUNENGSLPJ6KGO"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XO34FWOIJI6V6PH2XY52WNBBARVWPJG2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202311-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.westerndigital.com/support/product-security/wdc-22005-netatalk-security-vulnerabilities"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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.