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The (1) gendef.sh, (2) doc/fixinfo.sh, and (3) contrib...

Low severity Unreviewed Published May 2, 2022 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Apr 11, 2025

Package

No package listed— Suggest a package

Affected versions

Unknown

Patched versions

Unknown

Description

The (1) gendef.sh, (2) doc/fixinfo.sh, and (3) contrib/gdiffmk/tests/runtests.in scripts in GNU troff (aka groff) 1.21 and earlier allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a gro#####.tmp or /tmp/##### temporary file.

References

Published by the National Vulnerability Database Jun 30, 2011
Published to the GitHub Advisory Database May 2, 2022
Last updated Apr 11, 2025

Severity

Low

EPSS score

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

This score estimates the probability of this vulnerability being exploited within the next 30 days. Data provided by FIRST.
(9th percentile)

Weaknesses

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

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. Learn more on MITRE.

CVE ID

CVE-2009-5079

GHSA ID

GHSA-xq95-4rwq-mppc

Source code

No known source code

Dependabot alerts are not supported on this advisory because it does not have a package from a supported ecosystem with an affected and fixed version.

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