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.
2029 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-H8VC-63Q5-4PXR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 04:42 – Updated: 2022-05-17 04:42include/tests_webservers in Lynis before 1.5.5 on AIX allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/lynis.##### file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2014-3982"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2014-06-08T18:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "include/tests_webservers in Lynis before 1.5.5 on AIX allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/lynis.##### file.",
"id": "GHSA-h8vc-63q5-4pxr",
"modified": "2022-05-17T04:42:21Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T04:42:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3982"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://cisofy.com/files/lynis-1.5.5.tar.gz"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/05/14"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/06/12"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/07/3"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-H92H-M4PR-CXFX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-30 18:17 – Updated: 2024-02-02 03:30WFTPD 3.00 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files by uploading a (link) file that ends in a ".lnk." extension, which bypasses WFTPD's check for a ".lnk" extension.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2001-1386"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2001-07-01T04:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "WFTPD 3.00 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files by uploading a (link) file that ends in a \".lnk.\" extension, which bypasses WFTPD\u0027s check for a \".lnk\" extension.",
"id": "GHSA-h92h-m4pr-cxfx",
"modified": "2024-02-02T03:30:28Z",
"published": "2022-04-30T18:17:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2001-1386"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/6760"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/194442"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/2957"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H989-3VFV-VW6F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:55 – Updated: 2022-05-17 03:55Cool Projects TarDiff allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a pathname in a /tmp/tardiff-$$ temporary directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2015-0858"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2016-05-06T17:59:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "Cool Projects TarDiff allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a pathname in a /tmp/tardiff-$$ temporary directory.",
"id": "GHSA-h989-3vfv-vw6f",
"modified": "2022-05-17T03:55:47Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:55:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-0858"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://anonscm.debian.org/cgit/collab-maint/tardiff.git/commit/?id=9bd6a07bc204472ac27242cea16f89943b43003a"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3562"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H9C6-H3Q2-GQ6X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:08 – Updated: 2025-10-22 00:31An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links, aka 'Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0686.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-0683"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-269",
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-02-11T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer when MSI packages process symbolic links, aka \u0027Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability\u0027. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-0686.",
"id": "GHSA-h9c6-h3q2-gq6x",
"modified": "2025-10-22T00:31:50Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:08:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0683"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/nu11secur1ty/Windows10Exploits/blob/master/Undefined/CVE-2020-0683/README.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0683"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-0683"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/156373/Microsoft-Windows-10-MSI-Privilege-Escalation.html"
}
],
"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-H9FG-GRVQ-VXPC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:52 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:52bulmages-servers 0.11.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (a) /tmp/error.txt, (b) /tmp/errores.txt, and possibly other temporary files, related to the (1) creabulmafact, (2) creabulmacont, and possibly (3) actualizabulmacont, (4) installbulmages-db, and (5) actualizabulmafact scripts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4943"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-05T15:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "bulmages-servers 0.11.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (a) /tmp/error.txt, (b) /tmp/errores.txt, and possibly other temporary files, related to the (1) creabulmafact, (2) creabulmacont, and possibly (3) actualizabulmacont, (4) installbulmages-db, and (5) actualizabulmafact scripts.",
"id": "GHSA-h9fg-grvq-vxpc",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:52:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:52:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4943"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496382"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/bulmages-servers"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-H9JM-PPR9-845G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-26 21:30 – Updated: 2023-02-03 21:30uptimed before 0.4.6-r1 on Gentoo allows local users (with access to the uptimed user account) to gain root privileges by creating a hard link within the /var/spool/uptimed directory, because there is an unsafe chown -R call.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-36657"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-01-26T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "uptimed before 0.4.6-r1 on Gentoo allows local users (with access to the uptimed user account) to gain root privileges by creating a hard link within the /var/spool/uptimed directory, because there is an unsafe chown -R call.",
"id": "GHSA-h9jm-ppr9-845g",
"modified": "2023-02-03T21:30:29Z",
"published": "2023-01-26T21:30:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-36657"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/630810"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-14"
}
],
"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-H9X3-PW9P-2FXQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:19 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:19si_mkbootserver in systemimager-server 3.6.3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) /tmp/.inetd.conf or (2) /tmp/pxe.conf..tmp temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-5156"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-18T16:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "si_mkbootserver in systemimager-server 3.6.3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) /tmp/*.inetd.conf or (2) /tmp/pxe.conf.*.tmp temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-h9x3-pw9p-2fxq",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:19:30Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:19:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5156"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/08/msg00347.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.sid.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32370"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-H9XQ-7QM7-5MCX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-10 00:30 – Updated: 2026-02-10 00:30Tanium addressed an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-15318"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-02-09T23:16:04Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Tanium addressed an arbitrary file deletion vulnerability in End-User Notifications Endpoint Tools.",
"id": "GHSA-h9xq-7qm7-5mcx",
"modified": "2026-02-10T00:30:31Z",
"published": "2026-02-10T00:30:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15318"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.tanium.com/TAN-2025-017"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HC4R-GJ92-39G7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:47 – Updated: 2022-05-17 03:47svnwcsub.py in Subversion 1.8.0 before 1.8.3, when using the --pidfile option and running in foreground mode, allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack on the pid file. NOTE: this issue was SPLIT due to different affected versions (ADT3). The irkerbridge.py issue is covered by CVE-2013-7393.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2013-4262"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2014-07-28T19:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "svnwcsub.py in Subversion 1.8.0 before 1.8.3, when using the --pidfile option and running in foreground mode, allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack on the pid file. NOTE: this issue was SPLIT due to different affected versions (ADT3). The irkerbridge.py issue is covered by CVE-2013-7393.",
"id": "GHSA-hc4r-gj92-39g7",
"modified": "2022-05-17T03:47:56Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:47:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4262"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://subversion.apache.org/security/CVE-2013-4262-advisory.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinoct2015-2511968.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-HC7X-M44M-XHXQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-08 18:31 – Updated: 2025-09-15 18:31Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-48799"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-08T17:15:42Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027) in Windows Update Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-hc7x-m44m-xhxq",
"modified": "2025-09-15T18:31:05Z",
"published": "2025-07-08T18:31:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-48799"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-48799"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-48799-detection-script-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability-in-windows-update-service"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-48799-mitigation-script-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability-in-windows-update-service"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.