CVE-2008-4996 - Vulnerability Details - OpenCVE

Description

init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that "init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable.

Published: 2008-11-07

Score: 5.5 Medium

EPSS: < 1% Very Low

KEV: No

Impact:

Action:

Analysis

No analysis available yet.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

n/a

n/a

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`n/a`	affected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:debian:initramfs-tools:0.92f:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

No data.

No data available yet.

Remediation

No remediation available yet.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact None

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

Access Vector Local

Access Complexity Medium

Authentication None

Confidentiality Impact Complete

Integrity Impact Complete

Availability Impact Complete

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

The EPSS score is 0.00116.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

References

Link	Providers
http://bugs.debian.org/496386
http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2
https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770

History

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N'}` ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Subscriptions

Debian Initramfs-tools

MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: mitre

Published: 2008-11-07T19:00:00.000Z

Updated: 2025-01-17T15:24:30.124Z

Reserved: 2008-11-07T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2008-4996

Vulnrichment

Updated: 2024-08-07T10:31:28.423Z

NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2008-11-07T19:36:23.963

Modified: 2026-04-23T00:35:47.467

Link: CVE-2008-4996

Redhat

No data.

OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

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

{"containers": {"cna": {"affected": [{"product": "n/a", "vendor": "n/a", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "n/a"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that \"init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable."}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"description": "n/a", "lang": "en", "type": "text"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"dateUpdated": "2008-11-07T19:00:00.000Z", "orgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "shortName": "mitre"}, "references": [{"tags": ["x_refsource_MISC"], "url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools"}, {"name": "[oss-security] 20081030 CVE requests: tempfile issues for aview, mgetty, openoffice, crossfire", "tags": ["mailing-list", "x_refsource_MLIST"], "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"}, {"tags": ["x_refsource_MISC"], "url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"}, {"tags": ["x_refsource_MISC"], "url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386"}], "tags": ["disputed"], "x_legacyV4Record": {"CVE_data_meta": {"ASSIGNER": "cve@mitre.org", "ID": "CVE-2008-4996", "STATE": "PUBLIC"}, "affects": {"vendor": {"vendor_data": [{"product": {"product_data": [{"product_name": "n/a", "version": {"version_data": [{"version_value": "n/a"}]}}]}, "vendor_name": "n/a"}]}}, "data_format": "MITRE", "data_type": "CVE", "data_version": "4.0", "description": {"description_data": [{"lang": "eng", "value": "** DISPUTED ** init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that \"init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable.\""}]}, "problemtype": {"problemtype_data": [{"description": [{"lang": "eng", "value": "n/a"}]}]}, "references": {"reference_data": [{"name": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools", "refsource": "MISC", "url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools"}, {"name": "[oss-security] 20081030 CVE requests: tempfile issues for aview, mgetty, openoffice, crossfire", "refsource": "MLIST", "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"}, {"name": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770", "refsource": "MISC", "url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"}, {"name": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386", "refsource": "MISC", "url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386"}]}}}, "adp": [{"providerMetadata": {"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "shortName": "CVE", "dateUpdated": "2024-08-07T10:31:28.423Z"}, "title": "CVE Program Container", "references": [{"tags": ["x_refsource_MISC", "x_transferred"], "url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools"}, {"name": "[oss-security] 20081030 CVE requests: tempfile issues for aview, mgetty, openoffice, crossfire", "tags": ["mailing-list", "x_refsource_MLIST", "x_transferred"], "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"}, {"tags": ["x_refsource_MISC", "x_transferred"], "url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"}, {"tags": ["x_refsource_MISC", "x_transferred"], "url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386"}]}, {"problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"type": "CWE", "cweId": "CWE-59", "lang": "en", "description": "CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')"}]}], "metrics": [{"cvssV3_1": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 5.5, "attackVector": "LOCAL", "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"}}, {"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"timestamp": "2024-04-18T15:21:37.616515Z", "id": "CVE-2008-4996", "options": [{"Exploitation": "none"}, {"Automatable": "no"}, {"Technical Impact": "partial"}], "role": "CISA Coordinator", "version": "2.0.3"}}}], "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2025-01-17T15:24:30.124Z"}}]}, "cveMetadata": {"assignerOrgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "assignerShortName": "mitre", "cveId": "CVE-2008-4996", "datePublished": "2008-11-07T19:00:00.000Z", "dateReserved": "2008-11-07T00:00:00.000Z", "dateUpdated": "2025-01-17T15:24:30.124Z", "state": "PUBLISHED"}, "dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.1"}

{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "containers": {"adp": [{"title": "CVE Program Container", "references": [{"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools", "tags": ["x_refsource_MISC", "x_transferred"]}, {"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2", "name": "[oss-security] 20081030 CVE requests: tempfile issues for aview, mgetty, openoffice, crossfire", "tags": ["mailing-list", "x_refsource_MLIST", "x_transferred"]}, {"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770", "tags": ["x_refsource_MISC", "x_transferred"]}, {"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386", "tags": ["x_refsource_MISC", "x_transferred"]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "shortName": "CVE", "dateUpdated": "2024-08-07T10:31:28.423Z"}}, {"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment", "metrics": [{"cvssV3_1": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 5.5, "attackVector": "LOCAL", "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"}}, {"other": {"type": "ssvc", "content": {"id": "CVE-2008-4996", "role": "CISA Coordinator", "options": [{"Exploitation": "none"}, {"Automatable": "no"}, {"Technical Impact": "partial"}], "version": "2.0.3", "timestamp": "2024-04-18T15:21:37.616515Z"}}}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "type": "CWE", "cweId": "CWE-59", "description": "CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "shortName": "CISA-ADP", "dateUpdated": "2025-01-17T15:24:20.115Z"}}], "cna": {"tags": ["disputed"], "affected": [{"vendor": "n/a", "product": "n/a", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "n/a"}]}], "references": [{"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools", "tags": ["x_refsource_MISC"]}, {"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2", "name": "[oss-security] 20081030 CVE requests: tempfile issues for aview, mgetty, openoffice, crossfire", "tags": ["mailing-list", "x_refsource_MLIST"]}, {"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770", "tags": ["x_refsource_MISC"]}, {"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386", "tags": ["x_refsource_MISC"]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that \"init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable."}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "type": "text", "description": "n/a"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "shortName": "mitre", "dateUpdated": "2008-11-07T19:00:00.000Z"}, "x_legacyV4Record": {"affects": {"vendor": {"vendor_data": [{"product": {"product_data": [{"version": {"version_data": [{"version_value": "n/a"}]}, "product_name": "n/a"}]}, "vendor_name": "n/a"}]}}, "data_type": "CVE", "references": {"reference_data": [{"url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools", "name": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools", "refsource": "MISC"}, {"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2", "name": "[oss-security] 20081030 CVE requests: tempfile issues for aview, mgetty, openoffice, crossfire", "refsource": "MLIST"}, {"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770", "name": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770", "refsource": "MISC"}, {"url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386", "name": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386", "refsource": "MISC"}]}, "data_format": "MITRE", "description": {"description_data": [{"lang": "eng", "value": "** DISPUTED ** init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that \"init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable.\""}]}, "problemtype": {"problemtype_data": [{"description": [{"lang": "eng", "value": "n/a"}]}]}, "data_version": "4.0", "CVE_data_meta": {"ID": "CVE-2008-4996", "STATE": "PUBLIC", "ASSIGNER": "cve@mitre.org"}}}}, "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2008-4996", "state": "PUBLISHED", "dateUpdated": "2025-01-17T15:24:30.124Z", "dateReserved": "2008-11-07T00:00:00.000Z", "assignerOrgId": "8254265b-2729-46b6-b9e3-3dfca2d5bfca", "datePublished": "2008-11-07T19:00:00.000Z", "assignerShortName": "mitre"}, "dataVersion": "5.1"}

{"configurations": [{"nodes": [{"cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:debian:initramfs-tools:0.92f:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "matchCriteriaId": "57E97BA9-A2F3-4969-A092-90648E31787A", "vulnerable": true}], "negate": false, "operator": "OR"}]}], "cveTags": [{"sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org", "tags": ["disputed"]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that \"init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable."}, {"lang": "es", "value": "** DISPUTADA ** init en initramfs-tools v0.92f permite a usuarios locales sobrescribir ficheros de su elecci\u00f3n a trav\u00e9s de un ataque de enlace simb\u00f3lico al fichero temporal /tmp/initramfs.debug. NOTA: El fabricante ha diputado esta vulnerabilidad, manteniendo que \"init es usado en un contexto de monousuario; no existe la posibilidad de hacer esto explotable\"."}], "id": "CVE-2008-4996", "lastModified": "2026-04-23T00:35:47.467", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV2": [{"acInsufInfo": false, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "cvssData": {"accessComplexity": "MEDIUM", "accessVector": "LOCAL", "authentication": "NONE", "availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE", "baseScore": 6.9, "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE", "integrityImpact": "COMPLETE", "vectorString": "AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C", "version": "2.0"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.4, "impactScore": 10.0, "obtainAllPrivilege": false, "obtainOtherPrivilege": false, "obtainUserPrivilege": false, "source": "nvd@nist.gov", "type": "Primary", "userInteractionRequired": false}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "availabilityImpact": "NONE", "baseScore": 5.5, "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "confidentialityImpact": "NONE", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N", "version": "3.1"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 3.6, "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary"}]}, "published": "2008-11-07T19:36:23.963", "references": [{"source": "cve@mitre.org", "url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386"}, {"source": "cve@mitre.org", "tags": ["Exploit"], "url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools"}, {"source": "cve@mitre.org", "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"}, {"source": "cve@mitre.org", "url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "http://bugs.debian.org/496386"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "tags": ["Exploit"], "url": "http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2"}, {"source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108", "url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=235770"}], "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org", "vulnStatus": "Modified", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}], "source": "nvd@nist.gov", "type": "Primary"}, {"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}], "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "type": "Secondary"}]}