Local privilege escalation from user wwwrun to root in the packaging of mailman
A symlink following vulnerability in the packaging of mailman in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12; openSUSE Leap 15.1 allowed local attackers to escalate their privileges from user wwwrun to root. Additionally arbitrary files could be changed to group mailman. This issue affects: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 mailman versions prior to 2.1.15-9.6.15.1. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 mailman versions prior to 2.1.17-3.11.1. openSUSE Leap 15.1 mailman version 2.1.29-lp151.2.14 and prior versions.
- Published
- Jan 24, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.4% · 28th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-59
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Report tools
Action score
31
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.4%
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 7.8
- CNA · suse
- 7.7
- 0.1 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; 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 helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| suse | mailman | cpe:2.3:a:suse:mailman |
| suse | linux enterprise server | cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server |
| opensuse | leap | cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap |
| opensuse | backports sle | cpe:2.3:a:opensuse:backports_sle |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- opensuse backports sle15.0
- suse mailmanbefore 2.1.15-9.6.15.1
- suse mailmanbefore 2.1.17-3.11.1
- suse mailmanup to 2.1.29-lp151.2.14 inclusive
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (suse). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
openSUSE Leap 15.1
- mailman and later · up to and including 2.1.29-lp151.2.14affected
SUSE SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
- mailman and later · before 2.1.15-9.6.15.1affected
SUSE SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
- mailman and later · before 2.1.17-3.11.1affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | mailman | before 2.1.29-lp151.3.3.1 | 2.1.29-lp151.3.3.1 |
| SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | mailman | before 2.1.17-3.11.1 | 2.1.17-3.11.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | mailman | before 2.1.15-9.6.15.1 | 2.1.15-9.6.15.1 |
| SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP1 | mailman | before 2.1.29-bp151.5.3.1 | 2.1.29-bp151.5.3.1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| opensuse:mailman | 2.1.29-lp151.3.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mailman | 2.1.15-9.6.15.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | 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.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
- Johannes SegitzSUSE
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
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00059.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-02/msg00000.html
- bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1154328
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.