Description
nnn through 5.3 contains an insecure temporary file vulnerability in the pdfread and nuke plugins that allows local attackers to overwrite files by exploiting predictable paths in /tmp. Attackers can pre-create a symlink at the name-derived or PID-derived path so the victim's plugin truncates and overwrites any file the victim can write.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| jarun | nnn | ≤ 5.3 | — |
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 | nnn | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 13 | nnn | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | nnn | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | nnn | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | nnn | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | nnn | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | nnn | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | nnn | No fix yet | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | nnn | No fix yet | — |
References
- GitHub Issue #2188 issue-tracking
- https://github.com/jarun/nnn product
- Fix commit patch
- https://github.com/jarun/nnn/blob/v5.3/plugins/pdfread#L9-L10 technical-description
- https://github.com/jarun/nnn/blob/v5.3/plugins/nuke#L280 technical-description
- VulnCheck Advisory: nnn through 5.3 Insecure Temporary File Symlink Overwrite via pdfread and nuke Plugins third-party-advisory