CVE-2008-4971 json
mafft-homologs in mafft 6.240 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/_vf#?????, (2) /tmp/_if#????…
published 2008-11-06 18 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2008-4950
- cvss
- 6.9
- version 2.0, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.4%
- EPSS 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 33%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
mafft-homologs in mafft 6.240 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on (1) /tmp/_vf#?????, (2) /tmp/_if#?????, (3) /tmp/_pf#?????, (4) /tmp/_af#?????, (5) /tmp/_rid#?????, (6) /tmp/_res#?????, (7) /tmp/_q#?????, and (8) /tmp/_bf#????? temporary files.
Patch / fix
- mafft Debian 14, Debian 13, Debian 12 6.240-2
debian advisories DEBIAN-CVE-2008-4971
Exploit prediction
0.39% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 33% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- dev.gentoo.org http://dev.gentoo.org/~rbu/security/debiantemp/mafft referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
-
dev.gentoo.org
/~rbu/security/debiantemp/mafft
exploit
- bugs.gentoo.org /show_bug.cgi?id=235804
-
openwall.com
/lists/oss-security/2008/10/30/2
mailing-list
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/30915
vdb-entry
- bugs.gentoo.org /show_bug.cgi?id=235770
- uvw.ru /report.lenny.txt
- bugs.debian.org /496366
-
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com
/vulnerabilities/44825
vdb-entry
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2008-4971
- NVD CVE-2008-4971
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.