CVE-2019-3691

Local root escalation via symlinked MUNGE key path

Published Jan 23, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Symlink following in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 and openSUSE Factory munge packages allows local users controlling munge to gain root. The root-run package installation or update script failed to reject a symbolic link at the MUNGE key path, so privileged file operations followed an attacker-controlled target. Exploitation requires control of the local munge account during a root-run package installation or update; affected versions are before 0.5.13-4.3.1 on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 and before 0.5.13-6.1 on openSUSE Factory.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.52%
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 15 and openSUSE Factory munge packages allows local users controlling munge to gain root. The root-run package installation or update script failed to reject a symbolic link at the MUNGE key path, so privileged file operations followed an attacker-controlled target. Exploitation requires control of the local munge account during a root-run package installation or update; affected versions are before 0.5.13-4.3.1 on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 and before 0.5.13-6.1 on openSUSE Factory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-3691
Published
Jan 23, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
SUSE
Product
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 23, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=munge <0.5.13-4.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SUSE · SUSE Linux Enterprise Serverversion=munge <0.5.13-4.3.1
OpenSUSE · openSUSE Factoryversion=munge <0.5.13-6.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.0SUSECVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/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.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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