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CVE-2008-4996

MEDIUM · CVSS 5.5EPSS 0.4%EU EUVD

init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that "init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable.

Key facts

CVSS score
5.5 (v3.1)
Severity
MEDIUM
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-59
EPSS score
0.4% (38th percentile)
In CISA KEV
No
In EU EUVD
Yes (EUVD-2008-4975)
Published
November 7, 2008
NVD last modified
June 16, 2026
Status
Modified

EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD)

This vulnerability is also tracked by ENISA as EUVD-2008-4975 in the EU Vulnerability Database. Last updated in EUVD on January 17, 2025.

View on the EU Vulnerability Database

Affected products

  • debian / initramfs-tools

References

Last updated September 17, 2026 · Source: NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST.org EPSS

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