Automake: Race condition by creation of "distdir" based directory hierarchy
Published Dec 20, 2009
4.4
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 0.48%
Description
The (1) dist or (2) distcheck rules in GNU Automake 1.11.1, 1.10.3, and release branches branch-1-4 through branch-1-9, when producing a distribution tarball for a package that uses Automake, assign insecure permissions (777) to directories in the build tree, which introduces a race condition that allows local users to modify the contents of package files, introduce Trojan horse programs, or conduct other attacks before the build is complete.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
automake-0:1.9.6-2.3.el5
Fixed · RHSA-2010:0321
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
automake14-0:1.4p6-13.el5.1
Fixed · RHSA-2010:0321
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
automake15-0:1.5-16.el5.2
Fixed · RHSA-2010:0321
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
automake16-0:1.6.3-8.el5.1
Fixed · RHSA-2010:0321
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
automake17-0:1.7.9-7.el5.2
Fixed · RHSA-2010:0321
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | automake-0:1.9.6-2.3.el5 | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | automake14-0:1.4p6-13.el5.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | automake15-0:1.5-16.el5.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | automake16-0:1.6.3-8.el5.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | automake17-0:1.7.9-7.el5.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0321 |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
The Red Hat Product Security has rated this issue as having low security impact, theres no plan to address this flaw in automake packages in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and 4.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.48% (0.00481) | 39.23th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.48% (0.00477) | 37.28th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.73% (0.00725) | 70.90th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.07th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 68.34th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 67.79th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2023 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 74.40th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 65.91th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 41.72th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (16)
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake-patches/2009-11/msg00017.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTExploit
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2009-12/msg00010.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2009-12/msg00011.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2009-12/msg00012.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTPatch
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2009-12/msg00013.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://savannah.gnu.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=6077 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1021784.1-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUNALERT
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2010-0071 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:203 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MANDRIVA
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/514526/100/0/threaded mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQ
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3579 vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPEN
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2009-4029 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=542609 Issue Tracking
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-4029
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11717 vdb-entrysignaturex_refsource_OVAL
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-4029
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.