CVE-2022-27816Public exploit

File corruption or startup denial via PID path

Published Mar 30, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Link-following in SWHKD before 1.2.0 allows local users to corrupt a user's files or prevent the hotkey server from starting. The swhks server in src/server.rs writes its PID to the fixed, shared /tmp/swhks.pid path without rejecting a precreated symbolic link or attacker-supplied PID file. Local filesystem access enables file redirection when kernel symlink protection is disabled, while naming an existing process blocks later server starts.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.50%
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 SWHKD before 1.2.0 allows local users to corrupt a user's files or prevent the hotkey server from starting. The swhks server in src/server.rs writes its PID to the fixed, shared /tmp/swhks.pid path without rejecting a precreated symbolic link or attacker-supplied PID file. Local filesystem access enables file redirection when kernel symlink protection is disabled, while naming an existing process blocks later server starts.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-27816
Published
Mar 30, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-132, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 30, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

3.3National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
7.1GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-132Symlink Attack
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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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