CVE-2015-1869

Local privilege escalation via problem-file symlink

Published Jan 14, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Link-following in ABRT before 7417505e1d93cc95ec648b74e3c801bc67aacb9f allows local users to gain privileges through crafted problem files. The default post-create event scripts follow a user-controlled var_log_messages symbolic link in a writable ABRT problem directory while processing it with elevated privileges. Local access and write access to an ABRT problem directory are required; successful exploitation escalates the user's privileges on the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in ABRT before 7417505e1d93cc95ec648b74e3c801bc67aacb9f allows local users to gain privileges through crafted problem files. The default post-create event scripts follow a user-controlled var_log_messages symbolic link in a writable ABRT problem directory while processing it with elevated privileges. Local access and write access to an ABRT problem directory are required; successful exploitation escalates the user's privileges on the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2015-1869
Published
Jan 14, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
ABRT Project
Product
ABRT
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 14, 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?

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  1. Affected versionversion=before 7417505e1d93cc95ec648b74e3c801bc67aacb9f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

ABRT Project · ABRTversion=before 7417505e1d93cc95ec648b74e3c801bc67aacb9f

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 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')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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