CVE-2022-4563

Local root file overwrite via gpg-agent.conf symlink

Published Dec 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

Local privilege escalation in SecureDrop before 2.5.1 allows local users controlling www-data to overwrite root-owned files. The securedrop-app-code post-installation script follows a www-data-controlled gpg-agent.conf symlink while appending fixed settings as root. Existing code execution as www-data is required, and the writable target is limited to corruption with the script's fixed configuration text.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in SecureDrop before 2.5.1 allows local users controlling www-data to overwrite root-owned files. The securedrop-app-code post-installation script follows a www-data-controlled gpg-agent.conf symlink while appending fixed settings as root. Existing code execution as www-data is required, and the writable target is limited to corruption with the script's fixed configuration text.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-4563
Published
Dec 16, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Freedom of the Press Foundation
Product
SecureDrop
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Freedom of the Press Foundation · SecureDropversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

7.8VulDB CNACVSS: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.

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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
PrivilegesUnavailable
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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