7.2

CVE-2008-5394: debian shadow Link Following

CVSS: 7.2v2.0HighModified
AliasesDEBIAN-CVE-2008-5394DSA-1709-1
Published 09-12-2008Last modified 07-08-2024
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2008-5394 is a high (CVSS 7.2) Link Following vulnerability in debian shadow. EPSS estimates a 0.95% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 60.5% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Overall risk
39/100
0100
Medium · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
7.2/10
010
High · v2.0 (NVD)
EPSS score
0.95%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits1exploit-database

Timeline

  1. 09-12-2008
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 07-08-2024
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

/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.

CVSS metrics

1 score · 1 source · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

0.95%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

61%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

0.00 pp

From 0.95% on 18-09-2026

18-09-202618-10-2026
EPSS score
0.95%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs

Not in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.

Public exploits

1 found
  • exploit-databaselocallinuxVerified

    Debian - Symlink In Login Arbitrary File Ownership

    Maturity: weaponized

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Debian2 products
  • shadow< 1:4.1.1-6 | < 1:4.0.18.1-7+etch1
  • shadow4.0.18.1

1 vendor · 2 products

References

13 links
Show all 13 references