How severe is CVE-2008-5256?

CVE-2008-5256 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.4, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-5256 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (27th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-5256?

CVE-2008-5256 primarily affects Virtualox. In total, 16 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-5256?

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

When was CVE-2008-5256 published?

CVE-2008-5256 was published on 2008-11-27 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-5256

CVE-2008-5256 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Virtualox with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.4. 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 4.4)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (27th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-59
Affected product: Virtualox
Published: 2008-11-27
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The AcquireDaemonLock function in ipcdUnix.cpp in Sun Innotek VirtualBox before 2.0.6 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/.vbox-$USER-ipc/lock temporary file.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5256?: The AcquireDaemonLock function in ipcdUnix.cpp in Sun Innotek VirtualBox before 2.0.6 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /tmp/.vbox-$USER-ipc/lock temporary file.
How severe is CVE-2008-5256?: CVE-2008-5256 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.4, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2008-5256 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (27th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-5256?: CVE-2008-5256 primarily affects Virtualox. In total, 16 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-5256?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2008-5256 published?: CVE-2008-5256 was published on 2008-11-27 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (16)

cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:1.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:virtualox:virtualox:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Other CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (Link Following)) vulnerabilities

CVE-2024-37143 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Dell PowerFlex appliance versions prior to IC 46.381.00 and IC 46.376.00, Dell PowerFlex rack versions prior to RCM…
CVE-2024-28189 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Judge0 is an open-source online code execution system. The application uses the UNIX chown command on an untrusted file…
CVE-2024-28185 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Judge0 is an open-source online code execution system. The application does not account for symlinks placed inside the…
CVE-2022-22995 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The combination of primitives offered by SMB and AFP in their default configuration allows the arbitrary writing of…
CVE-2014-4480 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Directory traversal vulnerability in afc in AppleFileConduit in Apple iOS before 8.1.3 and Apple TV before 7.0.3 allows…
CVE-2002-2374 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Unspecified vulnerability in pprosetup in Sun PatchPro 2.0 has unknown impact and attack vectors related to "unsafe use…

Browse all CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (Link Following)) vulnerabilities →