Description
The (1) config.guess, (2) contrib/groffer/perl/groffer.pl, and (3) contrib/groffer/perl/roff2.pl scripts in GNU troff (aka groff) 1.21 and earlier use an insufficient number of X characters in the template argument to the tempfile function, which makes it easier for local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2004-0969.
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 | groff | 1.20.1-5 | — |
| Debian 13 | groff | 1.20.1-5 | — |
| Debian 12 | groff | 1.20.1-5 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | groff | 1.22.3-2.5 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10031-1 |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10031-1 groff-1.22.3-2.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20090814 Re: CVE id request: groff (pdfroff) mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20090814 Re: CVE id request: groff (pdfroff) mailing-list
- http://cvsweb.openwall.com/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/Owl/packages/groff/groff-1.20.1-owl-tmp.diff.diff?r1=1.1%3Br2=1.2%3Bf=h
- http://cvsweb.openwall.com/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/Owl/packages/groff/groff-1.20.1-owl-tmp.diff
- MDVSA-2013:086 vendor-advisory