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.
2325 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-MQ66-VCFC-8246
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-02-15 01:13 – Updated: 2024-09-25 19:41A flaw was found in Mercurial before 4.9. It was possible to use symlinks and subrepositories to defeat Mercurial's path-checking logic and write files outside a repository.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "mercurial"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "4.9"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-3902"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-22",
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2024-05-01T16:49:25Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2019-04-22T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A flaw was found in Mercurial before 4.9. It was possible to use symlinks and subrepositories to defeat Mercurial\u0027s path-checking logic and write files outside a repository.",
"id": "GHSA-mq66-vcfc-8246",
"modified": "2024-09-25T19:41:29Z",
"published": "2022-02-15T01:13:11Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-3902"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-3902"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/mercurial/PYSEC-2019-188.yaml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/04/msg00024.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/07/msg00032.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://usn.ubuntu.com/4086-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mercurial-scm.org/wiki/WhatsNew#Mercurial_4.9_.282019-02-01.29"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Mercurial Path Traversal/Link Following vulnerability"
}
GHSA-MQ6P-G6QC-37C9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 00:54 – Updated: 2022-05-14 00:54ProFTPD before 1.3.5e and 1.3.6 before 1.3.6rc5 controls whether the home directory of a user could contain a symbolic link through the AllowChrootSymlinks configuration option, but checks only the last path component when enforcing AllowChrootSymlinks. Attackers with local access could bypass the AllowChrootSymlinks control by replacing a path component (other than the last one) with a symbolic link. The threat model includes an attacker who is not granted full filesystem access by a hosting provider, but can reconfigure the home directory of an FTP user.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-7418"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-04-04T17:59:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "ProFTPD before 1.3.5e and 1.3.6 before 1.3.6rc5 controls whether the home directory of a user could contain a symbolic link through the AllowChrootSymlinks configuration option, but checks only the last path component when enforcing AllowChrootSymlinks. Attackers with local access could bypass the AllowChrootSymlinks control by replacing a path component (other than the last one) with a symbolic link. The threat model includes an attacker who is not granted full filesystem access by a hosting provider, but can reconfigure the home directory of an FTP user.",
"id": "GHSA-mq6p-g6qc-37c9",
"modified": "2022-05-14T00:54:20Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T00:54:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7418"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd/pull/444/commits/349addc3be4fcdad9bd4ec01ad1ccd916c898ed8"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd/commit/ecff21e0d0e84f35c299ef91d7fda088e516d4ed"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/proftpd/proftpd/commit/f59593e6ff730b832dbe8754916cb5c821db579f"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://bugs.proftpd.org/show_bug.cgi?id=4295"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00004.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-08/msg00022.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00009.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97409"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MQF8-FVGR-VQF4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 05:02 – Updated: 2022-05-17 05:02The send_data_to_stdout function in prnt/hpijs/hpcupsfax.cpp in HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) 3.x before 3.11.10 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/hpcupsfax.out temporary file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2011-2722"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2012-05-25T20:55:00Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "The send_data_to_stdout function in prnt/hpijs/hpcupsfax.cpp in HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) 3.x before 3.11.10 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/hpcupsfax.out temporary file.",
"id": "GHSA-mqf8-fvgr-vqf4",
"modified": "2022-05-17T05:02:42Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T05:02:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2722"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013:0133"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013:0500"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-2722"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.launchpad.net/hplip/+bug/809904"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=704608"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/attachment.cgi?id=515866\u0026action=diff"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=725830"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/release_notes.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0133.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/48441"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/55083"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201203-17.xml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/07/26/14"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1981-1"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-MQJQ-9784-HVPV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:33 – Updated: 2026-07-05 03:30Ilex International Sign&go Workstation Security Suite 7.1 allows elevation of privileges via a symlink attack on ProgramData\Ilex\S&G\Logs\000-sngWSService1.log.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-23968"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-11-10T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Ilex International Sign\u0026go Workstation Security Suite 7.1 allows elevation of privileges via a symlink attack on ProgramData\\Ilex\\S\u0026G\\Logs\\000-sngWSService1.log.",
"id": "GHSA-mqjq-9784-hvpv",
"modified": "2026-07-05T03:30:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:33:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-23968"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ricardojba.github.io/CVE-Pending-ILEX-SignGo-EoP"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://ilex.com"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://signgo.com"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MQMQ-2P8R-Q32F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-12 12:30 – Updated: 2025-11-18 21:32VMware Tools contains an insecure file handling vulnerability. A malicious actor with non-administrative privileges on a guest VM may tamper the local files to trigger insecure file operations within that VM.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-22247"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-12T11:15:49Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "VMware Tools contains an insecure file handling vulnerability.\u00a0A malicious actor with non-administrative privileges on a guest VM may tamper the local files to trigger insecure file operations within that VM.",
"id": "GHSA-mqmq-2p8r-q32f",
"modified": "2025-11-18T21:32:28Z",
"published": "2025-05-12T12:30:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-22247"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/05/msg00017.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/25683"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/12/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/05/13/2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/09/24/3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/09/25/3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/09/25/5"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/09/26/1"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MR2X-VHGX-59M3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-09 18:30 – Updated: 2025-05-09 18:30Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in System Speedup Service in Avira Operations GmbH Avira Prime Version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via creating a symbolic link and leveraging a TOCTTOU (time-of-check to time-of-use) attack.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-9524"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-09T16:15:23Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in System Speedup Service in Avira Operations GmbH Avira Prime Version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via creating a symbolic link and leveraging a TOCTTOU (time-of-check to time-of-use) attack.",
"id": "GHSA-mr2x-vhgx-59m3",
"modified": "2025-05-09T18:30:37Z",
"published": "2025-05-09T18:30:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9524"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.gendigital.com/us/en/contact-us/security-advisories"
}
],
"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-MR6C-M5M7-MVXJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-22 00:24 – Updated: 2026-09-14 15:31In tesseract 2.03 and 2.04, an attacker can rewrite an arbitrary user file by guessing the PID and creating a link to the user's file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2011-1136"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-11-14T01:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "In tesseract 2.03 and 2.04, an attacker can rewrite an arbitrary user file by guessing the PID and creating a link to the user\u0027s file.",
"id": "GHSA-mr6c-m5m7-mvxj",
"modified": "2026-09-14T15:31:40Z",
"published": "2022-04-22T00:24:12Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1136"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=612032"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/tesseract/+bug/607297"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-1136"
}
],
"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:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MRCH-XFW5-VQWR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-05 21:32 – Updated: 2026-02-05 21:32Tanium addressed a documentation issue in Engage.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-15324"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-02-05T19:15:53Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Tanium addressed a documentation issue in Engage.",
"id": "GHSA-mrch-xfw5-vqwr",
"modified": "2026-02-05T21:32:41Z",
"published": "2026-02-05T21:32:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15324"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.tanium.com/TAN-2025-004"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MVPQ-6RGJ-X5XQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 09:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 09:30The ACAP Application framework could allow privilege escalation through a symlink attack. This vulnerability can only be exploited if the Axis device is configured to allow the installation of unsigned ACAP applications, and if an attacker convinces the victim to install a malicious ACAP application.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-5718"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-11-11T07:15:35Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The ACAP Application framework could allow privilege escalation through a symlink attack. This vulnerability can only be exploited if the Axis device is configured to allow the installation of unsigned ACAP applications,\u00a0and if an attacker convinces the victim to install a malicious ACAP application.",
"id": "GHSA-mvpq-6rgj-x5xq",
"modified": "2025-11-11T09:30:30Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T09:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-5718"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.axis.com/dam/public/3c/a4/6a/cve-2025-5718pdf-en-US-504214.pdf"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MW4J-8WF7-4RFP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-30 18:11 – Updated: 2024-01-26 18:30FreeBSD allows local users to conduct a denial of service by creating a hard link from a device special file to a file on an NFS file system.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-1999-0783"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-59"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "1998-06-16T04:00:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "FreeBSD allows local users to conduct a denial of service by creating a hard link from a device special file to a file on an NFS file system.",
"id": "GHSA-mw4j-8wf7-4rfp",
"modified": "2024-01-26T18:30:27Z",
"published": "2022-04-30T18:11:12Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-1999-0783"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/i-057.shtml"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.osvdb.org/6090"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
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.