Description
main.c in cscope 15-4 and 15-5 creates temporary files with predictable filenames, which 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 | cscope | 15.5-1.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | cscope | 15.5-1.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | cscope | 15.5-1.1 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | cscope | 15.3-1woody2 | DSA-610-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 2
- Cscope 13.0/15.x - Insecure Temporary File Creation (1) EDB-24749 · local · Nov 17, 2004 · verified
- Cscope 13.0/15.x - Insecure Temporary File Creation (2) EDB-24750 · local · Nov 17, 2004 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-610-1 cscope - insecure temporary file Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- cscope-tmp-race-condition(18125) vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-2732 vdb-entry
- 20041118 Re: RX171104 Cscope v15.5 and minors - symlink vulnerability - advisory, exploit and patch. mailing-list
- APPLE-SA-2007-07-31 vendor-advisory
- 20041117 RX171104 Cscope v15.5 and minors - symlink vulnerability - advisory, exploit and patch. mailing-list
- 11697 vdb-entry
- DSA-610 vendor-advisory
- 20041124 STG Security Advisory: [SSA-20041122-09] cscope insecure temp file creation vulnerability mailing-list
- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306172
- 20041118 Re: RX171104 Cscope v15.5 and minors - symlink vulnerability - advisory, exploit and patch. mailing-list
- 25159 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200412-11 vendor-advisory
- 26235 third-party-advisory