Description
The tempname_ensure function in lib/routines.h in a2ps 4.14 and earlier, as used by the spy_user function and possibly other functions, allows local users to modify arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | a2ps | 1:4.14-1.2 | — |
| Debian 13 | a2ps | 1:4.14-1.2 | — |
| Debian 12 | a2ps | 1:4.14-1.2 | — |
| Debian 7 | a2ps | 1:4.14-1.1+deb7u1 | DSA-2892-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | a2ps | 1:4.14-1.1+deb6u1 | DSA-2892-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | a2ps | 4.15-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12797-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-2892-1 a2ps - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12797-1 a2ps-4.15-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=737385
- http://pkgs.fedoraproject.org/cgit/a2ps.git/plain/a2ps-4.13-security.patch
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1060630
- [oss-security] 20140204 Re: CVE request: a2ps insecure temporary file use mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20140205 Re: CVE request: a2ps insecure temporary file use mailing-list
- DSA-2892 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20140205 Re: CVE request: a2ps insecure temporary file use mailing-list