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.
1984 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-66FX-FQV6-5WWX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-22 18:31 – Updated: 2026-07-06 20:23Duplicate Advisory
This advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-h444-6j9x-p8vh. This link is maintained to preserve external references.
Original Description
The mv utility in uutils coreutils improperly handles directory trees containing symbolic links during moves across filesystem boundaries. Instead of preserving symlinks, the implementation expands them, copying the linked targets as real files or directories at the destination. This can lead to resource exhaustion (disk space or time) if symlinks point to large external directories, unexpected duplication of sensitive data into unintended locations, or infinite recursion and repeated copying in the presence of symlink loops.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "coreutils"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.7.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-04-30T17:32:14Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-22T17:16:39Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "### Duplicate Advisory\nThis advisory has been withdrawn because it is a duplicate of GHSA-h444-6j9x-p8vh. This link is maintained to preserve external references.\n\n### Original Description\nThe mv utility in uutils coreutils improperly handles directory trees containing symbolic links during moves across filesystem boundaries. Instead of preserving symlinks, the implementation expands them, copying the linked targets as real files or directories at the destination. This can lead to resource exhaustion (disk space or time) if symlinks point to large external directories, unexpected duplication of sensitive data into unintended locations, or infinite recursion and repeated copying in the presence of symlink loops.",
"id": "GHSA-66fx-fqv6-5wwx",
"modified": "2026-07-06T20:23:25Z",
"published": "2026-04-22T18:31:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-35365"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/pull/10546"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/commit/9654e4abaf24449ef2279e9a16963edb5c8b8fef"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/uutils/coreutils/releases/tag/0.7.0"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Duplicate Advisory: uutils coreutils has a Link Following issue",
"withdrawn": "2026-07-06T20:23:25Z"
}
GHSA-66P8-J459-RQ63
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-02-10 23:11 – Updated: 2023-02-10 23:11Impact
This vulnerability impacts anyone running the affected versions of Wings. The vulnerability can be used to delete files and directories recursively on the host system. This vulnerability can be combined with GHSA-p8r3-83r8-jwj5 to overwrite files on the host system.
In order to use this exploit, an attacker must have an existing "server" allocated and controlled by Wings. Information on how the exploitation of this vulnerability works will be released on February 24th, 2023 in North America.
Patches
This vulnerability has been resolved in version v1.11.4 of Wings, and has been back-ported to the 1.7 release series in v1.7.4.
Anyone running v1.11.x should upgrade to v1.11.4 and anyone running v1.7.x should upgrade to v1.7.4.
Workarounds
None at this time.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/pterodactyl/wings"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.7.4"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/pterodactyl/wings"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "1.11.0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.11.4"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-25168"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2023-02-10T23:11:01Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2023-02-09T00:16:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "### Impact\n\nThis vulnerability impacts anyone running the affected versions of Wings. The vulnerability can be used to delete files and directories recursively on the host system. This vulnerability can be combined with [`GHSA-p8r3-83r8-jwj5`](https://github.com/pterodactyl/wings/security/advisories/GHSA-p8r3-83r8-jwj5) to overwrite files on the host system.\n\nIn order to use this exploit, an attacker must have an existing \"server\" allocated and controlled by Wings. Information on how the exploitation of this vulnerability works will be released on February 24th, 2023 in North America.\n\n### Patches\n\nThis vulnerability has been resolved in version `v1.11.4` of Wings, and has been back-ported to the 1.7 release series in `v1.7.4`.\n\nAnyone running `v1.11.x` should upgrade to `v1.11.4` and anyone running `v1.7.x` should upgrade to `v1.7.4`.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nNone at this time.",
"id": "GHSA-66p8-j459-rq63",
"modified": "2023-02-10T23:11:01Z",
"published": "2023-02-10T23:11:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/pterodactyl/wings/security/advisories/GHSA-66p8-j459-rq63"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/pterodactyl/wings/security/advisories/GHSA-p8r3-83r8-jwj5"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25168"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/pterodactyl/wings/commit/429ac62dba22997a278bc709df5ac00a5a25d83d"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/pterodactyl/wings"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Pterodactyl Wings contains UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following resulting in deletion of files and directories on the host system"
}
GHSA-66WP-J8HV-Q5V9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 04:44 – Updated: 2022-05-17 04:44The IPXPING_COMMAND in contrib/check_ipxping.c in Nagios Plugins 1.4.16 allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack on /tmp/ipxping/ipxping.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2013-4215"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2014-05-05T17:06:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The IPXPING_COMMAND in contrib/check_ipxping.c in Nagios Plugins 1.4.16 allows local users to gain privileges via a symlink attack on /tmp/ipxping/ipxping.",
"id": "GHSA-66wp-j8hv-q5v9",
"modified": "2022-05-17T04:44:47Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T04:44:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4215"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=957482"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://osvdb.org/96085"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2013/q3/310"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://tracker.nagios.org/view.php?id=451"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-67HM-27MX-9CG7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-13 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-23 06:44Deno <=1.14.0 file sandbox does not handle symbolic links correctly. When running Deno with specific write access, the Deno.symlink method can be used to gain access to any directory.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "deno"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.16.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-41641"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2022-06-23T06:44:34Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-12T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Deno \u003c=1.14.0 file sandbox does not handle symbolic links correctly. When running Deno with specific write access, the Deno.symlink method can be used to gain access to any directory.",
"id": "GHSA-67hm-27mx-9cg7",
"modified": "2022-06-23T06:44:34Z",
"published": "2022-06-13T00:00:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41641"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/denoland/deno/issues/12152"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/denoland/deno/pull/12554"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/denoland/deno/commit/d44011a69e0674acfa9c59bd7ad7f0523eb61d42"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://hackers.report/report/614876917a7b150012836bb8"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Link Following in Deno"
}
GHSA-67HR-WG4G-MJJV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 00:11 – Updated: 2022-05-17 00:11The pg_ctlcluster script in postgresql-common package in Debian wheezy before 134wheezy5, in Debian jessie before 165+deb8u2, in Debian unstable before 178, in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS before 129ubuntu1.2, in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS before 154ubuntu1.1, in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS before 173ubuntu0.1, in Ubuntu 17.04 before 179ubuntu0.1, and in Ubuntu 17.10 before 184ubuntu1.1 allows local users to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on a logfile in /var/log/postgresql.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2016-1255"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-12-05T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The pg_ctlcluster script in postgresql-common package in Debian wheezy before 134wheezy5, in Debian jessie before 165+deb8u2, in Debian unstable before 178, in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS before 129ubuntu1.2, in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS before 154ubuntu1.1, in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS before 173ubuntu0.1, in Ubuntu 17.04 before 179ubuntu0.1, and in Ubuntu 17.10 before 184ubuntu1.1 allows local users to gain root privileges via a symlink attack on a logfile in /var/log/postgresql.",
"id": "GHSA-67hr-wg4g-mjjv",
"modified": "2022-05-17T00:11:40Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T00:11:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1255"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://anonscm.debian.org/cgit/pkg-postgresql/postgresql-common.git/commit/?id=c8989206ec360f199400c74f129f7b4cb878c1ee"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/01/msg00002.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3476-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3476-2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-67JC-HMVG-Q4C7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-17 21:32 – Updated: 2025-11-05 20:32NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in the update-ldcache hook, where an attacker could cause a link following by using a specially crafted container image. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to data tampering and denial of service.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/NVIDIA/nvidia-container-toolkit"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.17.8"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/NVIDIA/k8s-device-plugin"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.17.3"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/NVIDIA/gpu-operator"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "25.3.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/NVIDIA/mig-parted"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.12.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-23267"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2025-10-02T20:53:28Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-17T20:15:28Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in the update-ldcache hook, where an attacker could cause a link following by using a specially crafted container image. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to data tampering and denial of service.",
"id": "GHSA-67jc-hmvg-q4c7",
"modified": "2025-11-05T20:32:01Z",
"published": "2025-07-17T21:32:15Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-23267"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/NVIDIA/gpu-operator"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/NVIDIA/k8s-device-plugin"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/NVIDIA/mig-parted"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/NVIDIA/nvidia-container-toolkit"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5659"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2025-3998"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/07/16/3"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in the update-ldcache hook"
}
GHSA-68V9-MPJ8-43V9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-29 21:30 – Updated: 2025-10-29 21:30Razer Synapse 3 Chroma Connect Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Razer Synapse 3. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the Razer Chroma SDK installer. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the installer to delete arbitrary files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-26373.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-9871"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-29T20:15:37Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Razer Synapse 3 Chroma Connect Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Razer Synapse 3. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the Razer Chroma SDK installer. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the installer to delete arbitrary files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-26373.",
"id": "GHSA-68v9-mpj8-43v9",
"modified": "2025-10-29T21:30:33Z",
"published": "2025-10-29T21:30:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9871"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-920"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-693H-V7JP-H34F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-13 18:30 – Updated: 2025-05-13 18:30Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft PC Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-29975"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-13T17:15:58Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027) in Microsoft PC Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-693h-v7jp-h34f",
"modified": "2025-05-13T18:30:55Z",
"published": "2025-05-13T18:30:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-29975"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-29975"
}
],
"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-697Q-W597-8XCG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-07 18:31 – Updated: 2024-10-07 18:31A potential security vulnerability has been identified in the HP Hotkey Support software, which might allow local escalation of privilege. HP is releasing mitigation for the potential vulnerability. Customers using HP Programmable Key are recommended to update HP Hotkey Support.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-27458"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-07T17:15:15Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A potential security vulnerability has been identified in the HP Hotkey Support software, which might allow local escalation of privilege. HP is releasing mitigation for the potential vulnerability. Customers using HP Programmable Key are recommended to update HP Hotkey Support.",
"id": "GHSA-697q-w597-8xcg",
"modified": "2024-10-07T18:31:09Z",
"published": "2024-10-07T18:31:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-27458"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_11342101-11342130-16/hpsbhf03977"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-69P6-GP5X-J269
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-07-25 21:31 – Updated: 2024-11-18 16:26In snapd versions prior to 2.62, snapd failed to properly check the destination of symbolic links when extracting a snap. The snap format is a squashfs file-system image and so can contain symbolic links and other file types. Various file entries within the snap squashfs image (such as icons and desktop files etc) are directly read by snapd when it is extracted. An attacker who could convince a user to install a malicious snap which contained symbolic links at these paths could then cause snapd to write out the contents of the symbolic link destination into a world-readable directory. This in-turn could allow an unprivileged user to gain access to privileged information.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/snapcore/snapd"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "2.62"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-29069"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59",
"CWE-610"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2024-07-26T16:39:29Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2024-07-25T20:15:04Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "In snapd versions prior to 2.62, snapd failed to properly check the destination of symbolic links when extracting a snap. The snap format is a squashfs file-system image and so can contain symbolic links and other file types. Various file entries within the snap squashfs image (such as icons and desktop files etc) are directly read by snapd when it is extracted. An attacker who could convince a user to install a malicious snap which contained symbolic links at these paths could then cause snapd to write out the contents of the symbolic link destination into a world-readable directory. This in-turn could allow an unprivileged user to gain access to privileged information.",
"id": "GHSA-69p6-gp5x-j269",
"modified": "2024-11-18T16:26:55Z",
"published": "2024-07-25T21:31:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-29069"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/snapcore/snapd/pull/13682"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/snapcore/snapd/commit/b66fee81606a1c05f965a876ccbaf44174194063"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/snapcore/snapd"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://pkg.go.dev/vuln/GO-2024-3009"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "snapd failed to properly check the destination of symbolic links when extracting a snap"
}
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.