CVE-2015-5224
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers...
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
9.8
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
- Record
CVE-2015-5224- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 7.5 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-377
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List
9.8
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
- Record
CVE-2015-5224- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-377
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2015-5220
9.8
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
- Record
EUVD-2015-5220- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-g2jw-fqx3-5mwq
9.8
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers...
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
- Record
GHSA-g2jw-fqx3-5mwq- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-377
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.8
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
- Record
CVE-2015-5224- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2015-5224
9.8
The mkostemp function in login-utils in util-linux when used incorrectly allows remote attackers to cause file name collision and possibly other attacks.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2015-5224- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2015-0352 No score
Updated util-linux packages fix CVE-2015-5224
Updated util-linux packages fix security vulnerability:
The chfn and chsh commands in util-linux's login-utils are vulnerable to a file name collision due to incorrect mkstemp usage. If the chfn and chsh binaries are both setuid-root they eventually call mkostemp in such a way that an attacker could repeatedly call them and eventually be able to overwrite certain files in /etc (CVE-2015-5224).
- Record
MGASA-2015-0352- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
util-linuxDebian:12 |
before 2.27-1 | 2.27-1 |
util-linuxDebian:13 |
before 2.27-1 | 2.27-1 |
util-linuxDebian:14 |
before 2.27-1 | 2.27-1 |
util-linuxMageia:5 |
before 2.25.2-3.1.mga5 | 2.25.2-3.1.mga5 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2015-5224 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Kernel Util-linux, published September 8, 2015. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 4.53%, the 91st percentile. Fixed in util-linux 2.27-1.
References
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1256686
securityfocus.com/bid/76467
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/08/24/3
github.com/karelzak/util-linux/commit/bde91c85bdc77975155058276f99d2e0f5eab5a9
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-5224
github.com/advisories/GHSA-g2jw-fqx3-5mwq
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2015-5224
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0352.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=16641