Description
Untrusted search path vulnerability in the add_filename_to_string function in intl/gettext/loadmsgcat.c for Elinks 0.11.1 allows local users to cause Elinks to use an untrusted gettext message catalog (.po file) in a "../po" directory, which can be leveraged to conduct format string attacks.
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 | elinks | 0.11.1-1.4 | — |
| Debian 13 | elinks | 0.11.1-1.4 | — |
| Debian 12 | elinks | 0.11.1-1.4 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | elinks | 0.11.1-6.el5_4.1 | RHSA-2009:1471 |
| RHEL 4 | elinks | 0.9.2-4.el4_8.1 | RHSA-2009:1471 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- ELinks Relative 0.10.6/011.1 - Path Arbitrary Code Execution EDB-29954 · local · May 7, 2007 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2009:1471 Red Hat Security Advisory: elinks security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- 25550 third-party-advisory
- 2007-0017 vendor-advisory
- USN-457-1 vendor-advisory
- 25198 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-1686 vdb-entry
- 35668 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=235411
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9741 vdb-entry signature
- 23844 vdb-entry
- 25169 third-party-advisory
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=417789
- 25255 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-200706-03 vendor-advisory