CVE-2008-4996 json
init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary fi…
published 2008-11-07 18 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2008-4975
- cvss
- 5.5
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.4%
- EPSS 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 37%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that "init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable.
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
- Assessed
- 2 y ago
Exploit prediction
0.43% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 37% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- dev.gentoo.org http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/initramfs-tools referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA ADP | 3.1 | 5.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N |
| CNA | 3.1 | 5.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N |
| NVD | 2.0 | 6.9 | AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
References
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2008-4996
- NVD CVE-2008-4996
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