CVE-2019-18901

Arbitrary file permission changes via symlink race

Published Mar 2, 2020 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Symlink following in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server MariaDB packages allows local users to set arbitrary files to mode 0640. During installation or upgrade, root-run mysql-systemd-helper overwrites mysql_upgrade_info and applies chmod without preventing its mysql-owned parent directory from replacing the file with a symbolic link. SLES 12 before 10.2.31-3.25.1 and SLES 15 before 10.2.31-3.26.1 are affected; mysql-account access and winning the race are required, and host disruption is the primary reported consequence.

CVSS severity5.1
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

Symlink following in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server MariaDB packages allows local users to set arbitrary files to mode 0640. During installation or upgrade, root-run mysql-systemd-helper overwrites mysql_upgrade_info and applies chmod without preventing its mysql-owned parent directory from replacing the file with a symbolic link. SLES 12 before 10.2.31-3.25.1 and SLES 15 before 10.2.31-3.26.1 are affected; mysql-account access and winning the race are required, and host disruption is the primary reported consequence.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-18901
Published
Mar 2, 2020
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
SUSE
Product
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
Classifications
CWE-61, T1222.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 2, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=mariadb <10.2.31-3.25.1
  2. Affected versionversion=mariadb <10.2.31-3.26.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SUSE · SUSE Linux Enterprise Serverversion=mariadb <10.2.31-3.25.1; version=mariadb <10.2.31-3.26.1

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.1SUSE CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L
7.0SUSE security portalCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
2.1NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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 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-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
T1222.002Linux and Mac File and Directory Permissions Modification

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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