Description
Xscreensaver 4.14 contains certain debugging code that should have been omitted, which causes Xscreensaver to create temporary files insecurely in the (1) apple2, (2) xanalogtv, and (3) pong screensavers, and allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.
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 | xscreensaver | 4.15 | — |
| Debian 13 | xscreensaver | 4.15 | — |
| Debian 12 | xscreensaver | 4.15 | — |