CVE-2012-3440

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users...

5.6 MediumFix available

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

Exploit likelihood

0.43%Down 0.5 points since Feb 4, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 5.6

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

Record: CVE-2012-3440
CVSS 2.0: 5.6 MediumAV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C
Weakness: CWE-59
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

Record: CVE-2012-3440
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2012-3407 No score

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

Record: EUVD-2012-3407
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-f2xg-m95q-882q No score

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users...

A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file.

Record: GHSA-f2xg-m95q-882q
Weakness: CWE-59
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`sudo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client	before 0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2	0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2
`sudo-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client	before 0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2	0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2
`sudo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server	before 0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2	0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2
`sudo-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server	before 0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2	0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2012-3440 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.6) in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published August 8, 2012. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.43%, the 37th percentile. Fixed in sudo 0:1.7.2p1-14.el5_8.2.

References

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