Debian shadow 4.0.18.1 Login link following

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Debian shadow 4.0.18.1. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Login. The manipulation results in link following. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2008-5394. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Debian shadow 4.0.18.1. Affected is an unknown functionality of the component Login. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a link following vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-59. 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

/bin/login in shadow 4.0.18.1 in Debian GNU/Linux, and probably other Linux distributions, allows local users in the utmp group to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file referenced in a line (aka ut_line) field in a utmp entry.

The bug was discovered 11/09/2008. The weakness was shared 11/30/2008 by Paul Szabo (Website). The advisory is available at securityfocus.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2008-5394 since 12/08/2008. The exploitability is told to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

A public exploit has been developed in Shell File. The exploit is shared for download at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 22 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 35905 (GLSA-200903-24 : Shadow: Privilege escalation), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Gentoo Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 175136 (Debian Security Update for Shadow (DSA-1709)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 4 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (47037), Exploit-DB (7313), Tenable (35905), SecurityFocus (BID 32552†) and OSVDB (52200†). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 7.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Link following
CWE: CWE-59
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
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Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 35905
Nessus Name: GLSA-200903-24 : Shadow: Privilege escalation
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 63272
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 1709-1 (shadow)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

11/09/2008 🔍
11/09/2008 +0 days 🔍
11/09/2008 +0 days 🔍
11/30/2008 +21 days 🔍
12/08/2008 +7 days 🔍
12/08/2008 +0 days 🔍
01/26/2009 +49 days 🔍
02/17/2009 +22 days 🔍
03/10/2009 +20 days 🔍
03/11/2009 +1 days 🔍
03/17/2015 +2197 days 🔍
05/25/2025 +3722 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: debian.org

Advisory: securityfocus.com⛔
Researcher: Paul Szabo
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2008-5394 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-5394
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-45354

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 47037
SecurityFocus: 32552 - Multiple Linux Distributions 'login' Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
OSVDB: 52200 - Debian Linux /bin/login Local utmp Privilege Escalation
Vulnerability Center: 20640 - Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu Linux Login Package Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 03/17/2015 16:11
Updated: 05/25/2025 03:31
Changes: 03/17/2015 16:11 (82), 08/26/2019 09:32 (4), 11/12/2024 14:27 (19), 05/25/2025 03:31 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:FC7:103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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