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.
1983 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-38R5-V3QG-5QVG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-01 23:44 – Updated: 2022-05-01 23:44lib/prefs.tcl in Cecilia 2.0.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the csvers temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-1832"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-04-16T15:05:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "lib/prefs.tcl in Cecilia 2.0.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the csvers temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-38r5-v3qg-5qvg",
"modified": "2022-05-01T23:44:04Z",
"published": "2022-05-01T23:44:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-1832"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/41837"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=476321"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/29832"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/28805"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-38X8-C7CG-PG87
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:53 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:53fwd_check.sh in libncbi6 6.1.20080302 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/##### temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-5149"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-18T16:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "fwd_check.sh in libncbi6 6.1.20080302 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/##### temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-38x8-c7cg-pg87",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:53:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:53:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5149"
},
{
"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/32401"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-3934-423W-4JQ3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-12 21:31 – Updated: 2026-05-19 15:39HashiCorp Nomad and Nomad Enterprise prior to 2.0.1 are vulnerable to arbitrary file read and write on the client host as the Nomad process user through a symlink attack. This vulnerability (CVE-2026-6959) is fixed in Nomad 2.0.1, 1.11.5 and 1.10.11.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/hashicorp/nomad"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.11.0-rc.1.0.20260512123500-2a09fd62c238"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-6959"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-05-19T15:39:41Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-12T20:16:46Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "HashiCorp Nomad and Nomad Enterprise prior to 2.0.1 are vulnerable to arbitrary file read and write on the client host as the Nomad process user through a symlink attack. This vulnerability (CVE-2026-6959) is fixed in Nomad 2.0.1, 1.11.5 and 1.10.11.",
"id": "GHSA-3934-423w-4jq3",
"modified": "2026-05-19T15:39:41Z",
"published": "2026-05-12T21:31:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6959"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/hashicorp/nomad/commit/2a09fd62c23880ff306499ae03fe64628d82a23f"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://discuss.hashicorp.com/t/hcsec-2026-14-nomad-arbitrary-file-read-write-on-client-host-through-symlink-attack/77416"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/hashicorp/nomad"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/hashicorp/nomad/releases/tag/v2.0.1"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "HashiCorp Nomad vulnerable to symlink attack"
}
GHSA-3997-6WVQ-MG36
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:27 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:27Improper Access Control vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) for Windows prior to 10.7.0 September 2020 Update allows local users to access files which the user otherwise would not have access to via manipulating symbolic links to redirect McAfee file operations to an unintended file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-7319"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-09-09T10:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Improper Access Control vulnerability in McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS) for Windows prior to 10.7.0 September 2020 Update allows local users to access files which the user otherwise would not have access to via manipulating symbolic links to redirect McAfee file operations to an unintended file.",
"id": "GHSA-3997-6wvq-mg36",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:27:48Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:27:48Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7319"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content\u0026id=SB10327"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-39V2-WQCX-XC5W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:53 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:53pscal in xcal 4.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/pscal##### temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4988"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-06T15:55:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "pscal in xcal 4.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/pscal##### temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-39v2-wqcx-xc5w",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:53:39Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:53:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4988"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496393"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/xcal"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-3CCH-6JHJ-6GG8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:18 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:18redirect.pl in bk2site 1.1.9 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/redirect.log temporary file. NOTE: this vulnerability is only limited to debug mode, which is disabled by default.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4995"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-07T19:36:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "redirect.pl in bk2site 1.1.9 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/redirect.log temporary file. NOTE: this vulnerability is only limited to debug mode, which is disabled by default.",
"id": "GHSA-3cch-6jhj-6gg8",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:18:26Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:18:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4995"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46543"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496430"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/bk2site"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-3F8H-C4RW-WC8F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-27 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-09 00:00A validation issue existed in the handling of symlinks and was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.4. An app may be able to gain elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26704"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-05-26T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A validation issue existed in the handling of symlinks and was addressed with improved validation of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Monterey 12.4. An app may be able to gain elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-3f8h-c4rw-wc8f",
"modified": "2022-06-09T00:00:17Z",
"published": "2022-05-27T00:00:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26704"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/mandiant/Vulnerability-Disclosures/blob/master/2022/MNDT-2022-0032/MNDT-2022-0032.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213257"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213343"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213344"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jul/13"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Jul/14"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3G2G-X5J3-6XWC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:18 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:18apertium 3.0.7 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (a) /tmp/#####.lex.cc, (b) /tmp/#####.deformat.l, (c) /tmp/#####.reformat.l, (d) /tmp/#####docxorig, (e) /tmp/#####docxsalida.zip, (f) /tmp/#####xlsxembed, (g) /tmp/#####xlsxorig, and (h) /tmp/#####xslxsalida.zip temporary files, related to the (1) apertium-gen-deformat, (2) apertium-gen-reformat, and (3) apertium scripts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4939"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-05T15:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "apertium 3.0.7 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (a) /tmp/#####.lex.cc, (b) /tmp/#####.deformat.l, (c) /tmp/#####.reformat.l, (d) /tmp/#####docxorig, (e) /tmp/#####docxsalida.zip, (f) /tmp/#####xlsxembed, (g) /tmp/#####xlsxorig, and (h) /tmp/#####xslxsalida.zip temporary files, related to the (1) apertium-gen-deformat, (2) apertium-gen-reformat, and (3) apertium scripts.",
"id": "GHSA-3g2g-x5j3-6xwc",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:18:33Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:18:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4939"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44854"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496395"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/apertium"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.lenny.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30896"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-3G56-2HH3-35PH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:54 – Updated: 2024-10-27 15:34sosreport in SoS 3.x allows local users to obtain sensitive information from sosreport files or gain privileges via a symlink attack on an archive file in a temporary directory, as demonstrated by sosreport-$hostname-$date.tar in /tmp/sosreport-$hostname-$date.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "sosreport"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "3.0"
},
{
"fixed": "3.3"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2015-7529"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2023-08-02T22:03:33Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2017-11-06T17:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "sosreport in SoS 3.x allows local users to obtain sensitive information from sosreport files or gain privileges via a symlink attack on an archive file in a temporary directory, as demonstrated by `sosreport-$hostname-$date.tar` in `/tmp/sosreport-$hostname-$date`.",
"id": "GHSA-3g56-2hh3-35ph",
"modified": "2024-10-27T15:34:11Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:54:05Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-7529"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sosreport/sos/issues/696"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:0152"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:0188"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-7529"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1282542"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/sosreport/PYSEC-2017-73.yaml"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/sosreport/sos"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20160416033632/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/83162"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0152.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0188.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2845-1"
}
],
"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"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "SoSReport Predictable Tmp File Names"
}
GHSA-3H59-4588-8C38
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-03 18:30 – Updated: 2025-12-03 18:30Aquarius Desktop 3.0.069 for macOS contains an insecure file handling vulnerability in its support data archive generation feature. The application follows symbolic links placed inside the ~/Library/Logs/Aquarius directory and treats them as regular files. When building the support ZIP, Aquarius recursively enumerates logs using a JUCE directory iterator configured to follow symlinks, and later writes file data without validating whether the target is a symbolic link. A local attacker can exploit this behavior by planting symlinks to arbitrary filesystem locations, resulting in unauthorized disclosure or modification of arbitrary files. When chained with the associated HelperTool privilege escalation issue, root-owned files may also be exposed.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-65843"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-03T17:15:54Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Aquarius Desktop 3.0.069 for macOS contains an insecure file handling vulnerability in its support data archive generation feature. The application follows symbolic links placed inside the ~/Library/Logs/Aquarius directory and treats them as regular files. When building the support ZIP, Aquarius recursively enumerates logs using a JUCE directory iterator configured to follow symlinks, and later writes file data without validating whether the target is a symbolic link. A local attacker can exploit this behavior by planting symlinks to arbitrary filesystem locations, resulting in unauthorized disclosure or modification of arbitrary files. When chained with the associated HelperTool privilege escalation issue, root-owned files may also be exposed.",
"id": "GHSA-3h59-4588-8c38",
"modified": "2025-12-03T18:30:26Z",
"published": "2025-12-03T18:30:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-65843"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://almightysec.com/insecure-file-handling-via-symlink"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"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.