Description
w3m through 0.5.3 does not properly handle temporary files when the ~/.w3m directory is unwritable, which allows a local attacker to craft a symlink attack to overwrite arbitrary files.
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 | w3m | 0.5.3-36 | — |
| Debian 13 | w3m | 0.5.3-36 | — |
| Debian 12 | w3m | 0.5.3-36 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | w3m | 0.5.3-26ubuntu0.2 | USN-3555-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | w3m | 0.5.3-15ubuntu0.2 | USN-3555-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP4 | w3m | 0.5.3.git20161120-161.3.4 | SUSE-SU-2019:0776-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | w3m | 0.5.3.git20161120-161.3.4 | SUSE-SU-2019:0776-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | w3m | 0.5.3.git20161120-161.3.4 | SUSE-SU-2019:0776-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | w3m | 0.5.3.git20161120-161.3.4 | SUSE-SU-2019:0776-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | w3m | 0.5.3+git20180125-1.14 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11504-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | w3m | 0.5.3_git20241203-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | w3m | 0.5.3_git20241203-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | w3m | 0.5.3_git20241203-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
Show 12 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | w3m | 0.5.3.20180125-r0 | — |
Advisories 3
- USN-3555-1 w3m vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11504-1 w3m-0.5.3+git20180125-1.14 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0776-1 Security update for w3m SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://bugs.debian.org/888097
- USN-3555-2 vendor-advisory
- USN-3555-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/tats/w3m/commit/18dcbadf2771cdb0c18509b14e4e73505b242753
- https://salsa.debian.org/debian/w3m/commit/18dcbadf2771cdb0c18509b14e4e73505b242753
- 102855 vdb-entry
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1142 vendor-advisory