Description
The (1) dist or (2) distcheck rules in GNU Automake 1.11.1, 1.10.3, and release branches branch-1-4 through branch-1-9, when producing a distribution tarball for a package that uses Automake, assign insecure permissions (777) to directories in the build tree, which introduces a race condition that allows local users to modify the contents of package files, introduce Trojan horse programs, or conduct other attacks before the build is complete.
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 | automake | 1:1.4-p6-13.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | automake | 1.9.6-2.3.el5 | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| RHEL 5 | automake14 | 1.4p6-13.el5.1 | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| RHEL 5 | automake15 | 1.5-16.el5.2 | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| RHEL 5 | automake16 | 1.6.3-8.el5.1 | RHSA-2010:0321 |
| RHEL 5 | automake17 | 1.7.9-7.el5.2 | RHSA-2010:0321 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | automake | 1.4.17-5.7 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10027-1 |
Advisories 2
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10027-1 automake-1.15-4.6 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2010:0321 Red Hat Security Advisory: automake security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 14, 2026
References
- MDVSA-2010:203 vendor-advisory
- [automake] 20091208 CVE-2009-4029 Automake security fix for 'make dist*' mailing-list
- [automake-patches] 20091128 [PATCH] do not put world-writable directories in distribution tarballs mailing-list
- http://savannah.gnu.org/forum/forum.php?forum_id=6077
- [automake] 20091208 Re: CVE-2009-4029 Automake security fix for 'make dist*' mailing-list
- 20101027 rPSA-2010-0071-1 automake mailing-list
- [automake] 20091208 GNU Automake 1.11.1 released mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11717 vdb-entry signature
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2010-0071
- ADV-2009-3579 vdb-entry
- [automake] 20091208 GNU Automake 1.10.3 released mailing-list
- 1021784 vendor-advisory