CVE-2012-3440: redhat enterprise_linux Link Following

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2012-3440 is a medium (CVSS 5.6) Link Following vulnerability in redhat enterprise_linux. EPSS estimates a 0.43% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 36.4% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 08-08-2012
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 06-08-2024
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

• CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')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.