CWE-59
AllowedImproper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft
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.
1988 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-PHRX-3XXQ-247H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-08 18:31 – Updated: 2025-07-08 18:31Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows AppX Deployment Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-48820"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-08T17:15:46Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027) in Windows AppX Deployment Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-phrx-3xxq-247h",
"modified": "2025-07-08T18:31:46Z",
"published": "2025-07-08T18:31:46Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-48820"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-48820"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PM58-F9HW-7C82
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-03-11 18:32 – Updated: 2025-03-11 18:32Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Windows allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-25008"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-03-11T17:16:38Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027) in Microsoft Windows allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-pm58-f9hw-7c82",
"modified": "2025-03-11T18:32:19Z",
"published": "2025-03-11T18:32:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-25008"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-25008"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PM59-739H-G5CV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-09-10 18:30 – Updated: 2024-09-10 18:30Azure Network Watcher VM Agent Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-43470"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-09-10T17:15:34Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Azure Network Watcher VM Agent Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability",
"id": "GHSA-pm59-739h-g5cv",
"modified": "2024-09-10T18:30:47Z",
"published": "2024-09-10T18:30:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-43470"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-43470"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PM7P-73V9-HMX9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:28 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:28The installer in PEAR before 1.9.2 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the package.xml file, related to the (1) download_dir, (2) cache_dir, (3) tmp_dir, and (4) pear-build-download directories, a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-2519.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2011-1072"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2011-03-03T01:00:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "The installer in PEAR before 1.9.2 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the package.xml file, related to the (1) download_dir, (2) cache_dir, (3) tmp_dir, and (4) pear-build-download directories, a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-2519.",
"id": "GHSA-pm7p-73v9-hmx9",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:28:45Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:28:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1072"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/65721"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=546164"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://news.php.net/php.pear.cvs/61264"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/02/28/12"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/02/28/3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/02/28/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/01/4"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/01/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/01/7"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/01/8"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/01/9"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://pear.php.net/advisory-20110228.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://pear.php.net/bugs/bug.php?id=18056"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/43533"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-1072"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://svn.php.net/viewvc?view=revision\u0026revision=308687"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:187"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1741.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46605"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PMGH-8J9V-4XHF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-04-27 21:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:43Docker Desktop for Windows before 4.6 allows attackers to overwrite any file through the windowscontainers/start dockerBackendV2 API by controlling the data-root field inside the DaemonJSON field in the WindowsContainerStartRequest class. This allows exploiting a symlink vulnerability in ..\dataRoot\network\files\local-kv.db because of a TOCTOU race condition.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-38730"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-367",
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-04-27T20:15:40Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Docker Desktop for Windows before 4.6 allows attackers to overwrite any file through the windowscontainers/start dockerBackendV2 API by controlling the data-root field inside the DaemonJSON field in the WindowsContainerStartRequest class. This allows exploiting a symlink vulnerability in ..\\dataRoot\\network\\files\\local-kv.db because of a TOCTOU race condition.",
"id": "GHSA-pmgh-8j9v-4xhf",
"modified": "2024-04-04T03:43:01Z",
"published": "2023-04-27T21:30:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38730"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#docker-desktop-460"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cyberark.com/resources/threat-research-blog/breaking-docker-named-pipes-systematically-docker-desktop-privilege-escalation-part-2"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PMM8-2C7C-CRQ2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-10 00:30 – Updated: 2026-02-10 00:30Tanium addressed a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Patch Endpoint Tools.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-15319"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-02-09T23:16:05Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Tanium addressed a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Patch Endpoint Tools.",
"id": "GHSA-pmm8-2c7c-crq2",
"modified": "2026-02-10T00:30:31Z",
"published": "2026-02-10T00:30:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15319"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.tanium.com/TAN-2025-021"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PP6P-HWF9-PCPX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-18 00:30 – Updated: 2026-02-18 00:30A security flaw has been discovered in Softland FBackup up to 9.9. This impacts an unknown function in the library C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink\HID.dll of the component Backup/Restore. The manipulation results in link following. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-2627"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-02-17T22:18:45Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A security flaw has been discovered in Softland FBackup up to 9.9. This impacts an unknown function in the library C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\microsoft shared\\ink\\HID.dll of the component Backup/Restore. The manipulation results in link following. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploit has been released to the public and may be used for attacks. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-pp6p-hwf9-pcpx",
"modified": "2026-02-18T00:30:16Z",
"published": "2026-02-18T00:30:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2627"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/thezdi/PoC/tree/main/FilesystemEoPs"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.346279"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.346279"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.752050"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-PP74-39W2-V4W9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-08-25 21:01 – Updated: 2023-04-03 19:13pleaseedit in pleaser before 0.4.0 uses predictable temporary filenames in /tmp and the target directory. This allows a local attacker to gain full root privileges by staging a symlink attack.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "pleaser"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.4.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-31154"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-340",
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-06-01T19:34:12Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-27T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "pleaseedit in pleaser before 0.4.0 uses predictable temporary filenames in /tmp and the target directory. This allows a local attacker to gain full root privileges by staging a symlink attack.",
"id": "GHSA-pp74-39w2-v4w9",
"modified": "2023-04-03T19:13:35Z",
"published": "2021-08-25T21:01:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31154"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crates.io/crates/pleaser"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gitlab.com/edneville/please"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gitlab.com/edneville/please/-/tree/master/src/bin"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0102.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/18/1"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Permissions bypass in pleaser"
}
GHSA-PP7J-P833-2H5R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-03 03:25 – Updated: 2022-05-03 03:25The SPICE Firefox plug-in (spice-xpi) 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, and possibly other versions allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the usbrdrctl log file, which has a predictable name.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2011-0012"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2011-04-18T17:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "The SPICE Firefox plug-in (spice-xpi) 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, and possibly other versions allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the usbrdrctl log file, which has a predictable name.",
"id": "GHSA-pp7j-p833-2h5r",
"modified": "2022-05-03T03:25:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-03T03:25:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-0012"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=639869"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-0426.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/47269"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1025304"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0899"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PQ45-CG3M-2P42
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:18 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:18i2myspell in myspell 3.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/i2my#####.1 and (2) /tmp/i2my#####.2 temporary files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2008-4973"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2008-11-06T15:55:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "i2myspell in myspell 3.1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/i2my#####.1 and (2) /tmp/i2my#####.2 temporary files.",
"id": "GHSA-pq45-cg3m-2p42",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:18:28Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:18:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4973"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44830"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496392"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/myspell-tools"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://uvw.ru/report.lenny.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30929"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
Mitigation MIT-48.1
Strategy: Separation of Privilege
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
CAPEC-132: Symlink Attack
An adversary positions a symbolic link in such a manner that the targeted user or application accesses the link's endpoint, assuming that it is accessing a file with the link's name.
CAPEC-17: Using Malicious Files
An attack of this type exploits a system's configuration that allows an adversary to either directly access an executable file, for example through shell access; or in a possible worst case allows an adversary to upload a file and then execute it. Web servers, ftp servers, and message oriented middleware systems which have many integration points are particularly vulnerable, because both the programmers and the administrators must be in synch regarding the interfaces and the correct privileges for each interface.
CAPEC-35: Leverage Executable Code in Non-Executable Files
An attack of this type exploits a system's trust in configuration and resource files. When the executable loads the resource (such as an image file or configuration file) the attacker has modified the file to either execute malicious code directly or manipulate the target process (e.g. application server) to execute based on the malicious configuration parameters. Since systems are increasingly interrelated mashing up resources from local and remote sources the possibility of this attack occurring is high.
CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.