CVE-2012-6114

Arbitrary file overwrite via predictable temporary paths

Published Jan 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Temporary-file link following in Git Extras 1.7.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via fixed /tmp paths. The git-changelog and git-effort scripts write to /tmp/changelog and /tmp/.git-effort without exclusive temporary-file creation, allowing preplaced symbolic links to redirect writes. Exploitation requires another local user to place a link before either command runs; the resulting write uses the invoking user's file permissions.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Temporary-file link following in Git Extras 1.7.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via fixed /tmp paths. The git-changelog and git-effort scripts write to /tmp/changelog and /tmp/.git-effort without exclusive temporary-file creation, allowing preplaced symbolic links to redirect writes. Exploitation requires another local user to place a link before either command runs; the resulting write uses the invoking user's file permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2012-6114
Published
Jan 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Git Extras
Product
Git Extras
Classifications
CWE-59, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.7.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Git Extras · Git Extrasversion=1.7.0

Published CVSS scores

3.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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