Path-existence disclosure via privileged socket-path errors
Published May 26, 2025 · Updated May 28, 2025
Observable discrepancy in GNU Screen 5.0.0 and earlier allows local users to test protected path existence through error messages. In screen.c, socket-directory lookup inspects the SCREENDIR-derived SocketPath with effective root privileges and returns distinct path-specific errors. Exploitation requires a setuid-root installation and discloses only whether selected paths exist and what broad path type or access outcome applies.
Summary
What happened
Observable discrepancy in GNU Screen 5.0.0 and earlier allows local users to test protected path existence through error messages. In screen.c, socket-directory lookup inspects the SCREENDIR-derived SocketPath with effective root privileges and returns distinct path-specific errors. Exploitation requires a setuid-root installation and discloses only whether selected paths exist and what broad path type or access outcome applies.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-46804
- Published
- May 26, 2025
- Updated
- May 28, 2025
- Vendor
- The GnuPG Project
- Product
- GNU Screen
- Classifications
- CWE-203, T1083
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 28, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=? <=4.9.1
- Affected versionversion=5.0 <=5.0.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Public exploit references
- SCREENDIR protected-path existence testproof of concept · demonstrated
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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