CVE-2010-5105 in Blender
Summary
by MITRE
The undo save quit routine in the kernel in Blender 2.5, 2.63a, and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the quit.blend temporary file. NOTE: this issue might be a regression of CVE-2008-1103.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5105 represents a critical file system permission flaw within the Blender 3D modeling software kernel that affects versions 2.5 through 2.63a. This issue specifically targets the undo save quit routine which is responsible for managing temporary files during application shutdown processes. The flaw enables local attackers to exploit a symlink attack mechanism against the quit.blend temporary file, allowing them to overwrite arbitrary files on the system with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of temporary file creation and management during the application's exit sequence, creating a window where malicious actors can manipulate file system references to redirect write operations to sensitive target locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate or secure temporary file paths during the quit operation. When Blender attempts to save undo information before exiting, it creates a temporary file named quit.blend in a predictable location without adequate safeguards against symbolic link manipulation. This creates a race condition where an attacker can establish a symbolic link with the same name in the target directory, causing the application to write data to the attacker-controlled target file instead of the intended temporary location. The flaw operates under the principle of insufficient temporary file protection and improper file system access controls, which are categorized under CWE-377 and CWE-378 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to overwrite system-critical files, configuration data, or even executable components that could lead to privilege escalation or persistent access.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-5105 extends beyond simple file overwrites, as it represents a significant security regression that undermines the integrity of the application's temporary file handling mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to modify critical system files, inject malicious code into legitimate executables, or disrupt normal system operations by overwriting configuration files. The attack vector requires local system access but does not need network connectivity, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share the same system or where Blender is used in automated or server environments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for executing malicious code through application-specific mechanisms and T1546.001 for creating or modifying system processes to achieve persistence. The regression aspect of this vulnerability, as noted in the original description, indicates that similar issues were previously identified and addressed in CVE-2008-1103, suggesting a reoccurrence of inadequate temporary file handling security measures in the software development lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Blender versions to ensure proper temporary file handling and validation. System administrators should implement restrictive file permissions on temporary directories and consider using sandboxing mechanisms to isolate application processes from critical system files. The recommended approach involves implementing proper file descriptor validation, using secure temporary file creation methods such as mkstemp() or equivalent system calls, and ensuring that temporary file paths are not predictable or manipulable by unauthorized users. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of their software environments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications that may exhibit comparable temporary file handling flaws. The fix should include verification of file ownership and permissions before writing to temporary locations, implementation of atomic file operations, and proper cleanup of temporary resources to prevent race conditions that could be exploited by attackers.