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Vulnerability record · CVE-2018-6954 · published 13 February 2018

CVE-2018-6954: Systemd project systemd link following vulnerability

Systemd Project · Systemd

systemd-tmpfiles in systemd through 237 mishandles symlinks present in non-terminal path components, which allows local users to obtain ownership of arbitrary files via vectors involving creation of a directory and a file under that directory, and later replacing that directory with a symlink. This occurs even if the fs.protected_symlinks sysctl is turned on.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.53% · top 57.6% CWE-59 · Link following
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 7.2
0.53%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
3Affected product versions listed by NVD
12References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

systemd-tmpfiles in systemd through 237 mishandles symlinks present in non-terminal path components, which allows local users to obtain ownership of arbitrary files via vectors involving creation of a directory and a file under that directory, and later replacing that directory with a symlink. This occurs even if the fs.protected_symlinks sysctl is turned on.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

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

References

LinkTags
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00062.html Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/7986 ExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-2/ Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-05/msg00062.html Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/7986 ExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-2/ Third Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2018-6954), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-02). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.