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Vulnerability record · CVE-2013-4559 · published 20 November 2013

CVE-2013-4559: Lighttpd permissions and access controls vulnerability

Lighttpd · Lighttpd

lighttpd before 1.4.33 does not check the return value of the (1) setuid, (2) setgid, or (3) setgroups functions, which might cause lighttpd to run as root if it is restarted and allows remote attackers to gain privileges, as demonstrated by multiple calls to the clone function that cause setuid to fail when the user process limit is reached.

7.6 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 11% · top 4.3% CWE-264 · Permissions and access controls
7.6CVSS 2.0 base score
11%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
3Affected product versions listed by NVD
16References
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

lighttpd before 1.4.33 does not check the return value of the (1) setuid, (2) setgid, or (3) setgroups functions, which might cause lighttpd to run as root if it is restarted and allows remote attackers to gain privileges, as demonstrated by multiple calls to the clone function that cause setuid to fail when the user process limit is reached.

AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected products

3 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://download.lighttpd.net/lighttpd/security/lighttpd_sa_2013_02.txt Vendor Advisory
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN37417423/index.html Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-01/msg00049.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141576815022399&w=2 Issue TrackingThird Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/55682 Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/11/12/4 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10310 Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2795 Third Party Advisory
http://download.lighttpd.net/lighttpd/security/lighttpd_sa_2013_02.txt Vendor Advisory
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN37417423/index.html Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-01/msg00049.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141576815022399&w=2 Issue TrackingThird Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/55682 Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/11/12/4 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10310 Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2795 Third Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2013-4559), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.