Root privilege escalation via symlinked log files
Published Oct 2, 2025 · Updated Oct 2, 2025
Symlink following in the exim logrotate configuration in openSUSE Tumbleweed before 4.98.2-4.1 allows local users to gain root privileges. The root-run rotation process follows symbolic links placed in mail-group-controlled Exim log locations and performs privileged operations on their targets. Access to the mail user or group is required, and successful exploitation escalates that local principal to root.
Summary
What happened
Symlink following in the exim logrotate configuration in openSUSE Tumbleweed before 4.98.2-4.1 allows local users to gain root privileges. The root-run rotation process follows symbolic links placed in mail-group-controlled Exim log locations and performs privileged operations on their targets. Access to the mail user or group is required, and successful exploitation escalates that local principal to root.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-53881
- Published
- Oct 2, 2025
- Updated
- Oct 2, 2025
- Vendor
- OpenSUSE
- Product
- openSUSE Tumbleweed
- Classifications
- CWE-61, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 2, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 2, 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=? <4.98.2-lp156.248.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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