The tempname_ensure function in lib/routines.h in a2ps 4.14 and earlier, as used by the spy_user function and possibly other functions, allo
The tempname_ensure function in lib/routines.h in a2ps 4.14 and earlier, as used by the spy_user function and possibly other functions, allows local users to modify arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file.
- Published
- Apr 5, 2014
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.4% · 32th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-59
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Report tools
Action score
8
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 8 / 40 · 2.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.4%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| gnu | a2ps | cpe:2.3:a:gnu:a2ps |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- gnu a2psup to 4.14 inclusive
- gnu a2ps4.10.3
- gnu a2ps4.10.4
- gnu a2ps4.12
- gnu a2ps4.13
- gnu a2ps4.13b
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | a2ps | before 1:4.14-1.2 | 1:4.14-1.2 |
| Debian:6.0 | a2ps | before 1:4.14-1.1+deb6u1 | 1:4.14-1.1+deb6u1 |
| Debian:7 | a2ps | before 1:4.14-1.1+deb7u1 | 1:4.14-1.1+deb7u1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | a2ps | before 4.15-1.1 | 4.15-1.1 |
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2004-1170a2ps 4.13 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the filename.45Plan
- CVE-2015-8107Format string vulnerability in GNU a2ps 4.14 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.32Monitor
- CVE-2014-0466The fixps script in a2ps 4.14 does not use the -dSAFER option when executing gs, which allows context-dependent attackers to delete arbitrar28Monitor
- CVE-2004-1377The (1) fixps (aka fixps.in) and (2) psmandup (aka psmandup.in) scripts in a2ps before 4.13 allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files v8Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:a2ps | 1:4.14-1.2 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:a2ps | 4.15-1.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- P · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- P
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')CVSS vector
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or Information: HTML SmugglingT1027.006
- Obfuscated Files or Information: Embedded PayloadsT1027.009
- Boot or Logon Autostart Execution:Shortcut ModificationT1547.009
- Hide Artifacts: Resource ForkingT1564.009
- Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions WeaknessT1574.005
- Hijack Execution Flow: Services File Permissions WeaknessT1574.010
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- pkgs.fedoraproject.org/cgit/a2ps.git/plain/a2ps-4.13-security.patch
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/237
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/253
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/257
- www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2892
- bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=737385
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1060630
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.