How severe is CVE-2008-5394?

CVE-2008-5394 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2008-5394 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (57th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-5394?

CVE-2008-5394 affects Debian Shadow. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-5394?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2008-5394 published?

CVE-2008-5394 was published on 2008-12-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-5394

CVE-2008-5394 is a high-severity vulnerability in Debian Shadow with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2. 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: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.2)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (57th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-59
Affected product: Debian Shadow
Published: 2008-12-09
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

/bin/login in shadow 4.0.18.1 in Debian GNU/Linux, and probably other Linux distributions, allows local users in the utmp group to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file referenced in a line (aka ut_line) field in a utmp entry.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5394?: /bin/login in shadow 4.0.18.1 in Debian GNU/Linux, and probably other Linux distributions, allows local users in the utmp group to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file referenced in a line (aka ut_line) field in a utmp entry.
How severe is CVE-2008-5394?: CVE-2008-5394 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2008-5394 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (57th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-5394?: CVE-2008-5394 affects Debian Shadow. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-5394?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2008-5394 published?: CVE-2008-5394 was published on 2008-12-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:debian:shadow:4.0.18.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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