How severe is CVE-2008-5157?

CVE-2008-5157 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.9, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-5157 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (32nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-5157?

CVE-2008-5157 affects Uoregon Tau. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-5157?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2008-5157 published?

CVE-2008-5157 was published on 2008-11-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-5157

CVE-2008-5157 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Uoregon Tau with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-59.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.9)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (32nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-59
Affected product: Uoregon Tau
Published: 2008-11-18
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

tau 2.16.4 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) /tmp/makefile.tau.*.##### or (2) /tmp/makefile.tau*.##### temporary file, related to the (a) tau_cxx, (b) tau_f90, and (c) tau_cc scripts.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5157?: tau 2.16.4 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a (1) /tmp/makefile.tau.*.##### or (2) /tmp/makefile.tau*.##### temporary file, related to the (a) tau_cxx, (b) tau_f90, and (c) tau_cc scripts.
How severe is CVE-2008-5157?: CVE-2008-5157 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.9, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2008-5157 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (32nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-5157?: CVE-2008-5157 affects Uoregon Tau. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-5157?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2008-5157 published?: CVE-2008-5157 was published on 2008-11-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:uoregon:tau:2.16.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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