CVE-2019-3699

Root escalation via packaging symlink following

Published Jan 24, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Symlink following in the Privoxy package for openSUSE Leap 15.1 and Factory allows local users to escalate from privoxy to root. Public SUSE and NVD records do not identify the affected packaging script, filesystem path, or privileged file operation that follows the link. Exploitation requires local access as the privoxy service account and grants root-level control over the host.

CVSS severity7.7
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

Symlink following in the Privoxy package for openSUSE Leap 15.1 and Factory allows local users to escalate from privoxy to root. Public SUSE and NVD records do not identify the affected packaging script, filesystem path, or privileged file operation that follows the link. Exploitation requires local access as the privoxy service account and grants root-level control over the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-3699
Published
Jan 24, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
OpenSUSE
Product
openSUSE Leap
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 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=privoxy <=3.0.28-lp151.1.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSUSE · openSUSE Leapversion=privoxy <=3.0.28-lp151.1.1
OpenSUSE · openSUSE Factoryversion=privoxy <=3.0.28-2.1

Published CVSS scores

7.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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')
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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