Description
GNU nano before 2.2.4 does not verify whether a file has been changed before it is overwritten in a file-save operation, which allows local user-assisted attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on an attacker-owned file that is being edited by the victim.
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 | nano | 2.2.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | nano | 2.2.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | nano | 2.2.4-1 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | nano | 2.7.1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10435-1 |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10435-1 nano-2.7.1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [Nano-devel] 20100407 New prerelease for security tweaks mailing-list
- http://svn.savannah.gnu.org/viewvc/trunk/nano/ChangeLog?revision=4503&root=nano&view=markup
- [oss-security] 20100414 CVE request: GNU nano (minor) mailing-list
- 1023891 vdb-entry
- http://drosenbe.blogspot.com/2010/03/nano-as-root.html
- 39444 third-party-advisory