CVE-2019-3693

Root privilege escalation via symlink-following package scripts

Published Jan 24, 2020 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Symlink following in SUSE-packaged Mailman allows local users to gain root privileges or change arbitrary files to group mailman. The Mailman RPM post-install script runs explicit chown and chmod operations on package paths, following attacker-controlled symbolic links instead of applying fixed file attributes. Exploitation requires local access as wwwrun or membership in the mailman group and occurs during package installation or update; successful abuse grants root privileges or changes a chosen file's group.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.36%
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-packaged Mailman allows local users to gain root privileges or change arbitrary files to group mailman. The Mailman RPM post-install script runs explicit chown and chmod operations on package paths, following attacker-controlled symbolic links instead of applying fixed file attributes. Exploitation requires local access as wwwrun or membership in the mailman group and occurs during package installation or update; successful abuse grants root privileges or changes a chosen file's group.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-3693
Published
Jan 24, 2020
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
OpenSUSE
Product
openSUSE Leap
Classifications
CWE-59
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 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=mailman <=2.1.29-lp151.2.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSUSE · openSUSE Leapversion=mailman <=2.1.29-lp151.2.14
SUSE · SUSE Linux Enterprise Serverversion=mailman <2.1.15-9.6.15.1; version=mailman <2.1.17-3.11.1

Published CVSS scores

7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
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.

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-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

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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