contrib/pdfmark/pdfroff.sh in GNU troff (aka groff) before 1.21 allows local users to…
Priority LOW 16CWE-59Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
contrib/pdfmark/pdfroff.sh in GNU troff (aka groff) before 1.21 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a pdf#####.tmp temporary file.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00373 31st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 16
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 10.10.4 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 1.20.1 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.10 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.11 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.11a:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.11a | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.14 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.15 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.16 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.16.1 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.17.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.17.1 | Vulnerable | GNU |
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 10.10.4 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 1.20.1 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.10 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.11 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.11a:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.11a Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.14 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.15 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.16 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.16.1 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.17.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.17.1 Vulnerable ·GNU
Show 6 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.17.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.17.2 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.18.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.18.1 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.19 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.19.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.19.1 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.19.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.19.2 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.20 | Vulnerable | GNU |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.17.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.17.2 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.18.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.18.1 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.19 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.19.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.19.1 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.19.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.19.2 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:groff:1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.20 Vulnerable ·GNU
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-5044
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f2wq-wrc8-9j57
References
Other 7
- [oss-security] 20090809 CVE id request: groff (pdfroff)
- [oss-security] 20090810 Re: CVE id request: groff (pdfroff)
- [oss-security] 20090814 Re: CVE id request: groff (pdfroff)
- [oss-security] 20090814 Re: CVE id request: groff (pdfroff)
- http://cvsweb.openwall.com/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/Owl/packages/groff/groff-1.20.1-owl-tmp.diff.diff?r1=1.1%3Br2=1.2%3Bf=h
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT205031
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=538330
Sources
- CVE-2009-5044 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-5044 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f2wq-wrc8-9j57 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2009-5044 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences