GNU Fileutils 4.0/4.1/4.1.6 Directory privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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3.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in GNU Fileutils 4.0/4.1/4.1.6 and classified as problematic. This affects an unknown function of the component Directory Handler. The manipulation leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2002-0435. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU Fileutils 4.0/4.1/4.1.6 and classified as problematic. This issue affects an unknown part of the component Directory Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Race condition in the recursive (1) directory deletion and (2) directory move in GNU File Utilities (fileutils) 4.1 and earlier allows local users to delete directories as the user running fileutils by moving a low-level directory to a higher level as it is being deleted, which causes fileutils to chdir to a ".." directory that is higher than expected, possibly up to the root file system.

The bug was discovered 03/10/2002. The weakness was published 07/26/2002 by Wojciech Purczynski with isec.pl (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at securityfocus.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2002-0435. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Attacking locally is a requirement. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1068 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 67 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 13937 (Mandrake Linux Security Advisory : fileutils (MDKSA-2002:031)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Mandriva Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 115053 (GNU Fileutils Directory Removal Race Condition Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (8432), Tenable (13937), SecurityFocus (BID 4266†), OSVDB (5294†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-7697†). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.8

VulDB Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Temp Score: 3.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 13937
Nessus Name: Mandrake Linux Security Advisory : fileutils (MDKSA-2002:031)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

03/10/2002 🔍
03/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
03/11/2002 +1 days 🔍
05/16/2002 +66 days 🔍
07/26/2002 +71 days 🔍
07/26/2002 +0 days 🔍
07/31/2004 +736 days 🔍
04/27/2005 +270 days 🔍
07/22/2014 +3373 days 🔍
09/17/2025 +4075 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: securityfocus.com⛔
Researcher: Wojciech Purczynski
Organization: isec.pl
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2002-0435 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0435
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-18455
X-Force: 8432
SecurityFocus: 4266 - GNU Fileutils Directory Removal Race Condition Vulnerability
OSVDB: 5294 - GNU fileutils race condition
Vulnerability Center: 7697 - GNU fileutils 4.0 - 4.1.6 Allows Deleting Arbitrary Files via Race Condition, Low

Entryinfo

Created: 07/22/2014 20:07
Updated: 09/17/2025 10:39
Changes: 07/22/2014 20:07 (68), 06/03/2019 21:52 (5), 09/17/2025 10:39 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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