CVE-2008-5377

CUPS 1.3.8 - Arbitrary File Overwrite via Symlink Attack on Temporary File

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2008-5377. PoCs published by Jon Oberheide.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a symlink attack on the CUPS pstopdf filter to overwrite /etc/ld.so.preload, enabling local privilege escalation by preloading a malicious shared library. It requires specific conditions such as CUPS executing filters as a privileged user and a printer using the pstopdf filter.

Description

pstopdf in CUPS 1.3.8 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/pstopdf.log temporary file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2001-1333.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Jon Oberheide · clocalmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7550

This exploit leverages a symlink attack on the CUPS pstopdf filter to overwrite /etc/ld.so.preload, enabling local privilege escalation by preloading a malicious shared library. It requires specific conditions such as CUPS executing filters as a privileged user and a printer using the pstopdf filter.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: CUPS < 1.3.8-4
No auth needed
Prerequisites: CUPS running with privileged filter execution · Printer using pstopdf filter · /etc/ld.so.preload must be world-readable
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/08/msg00347.html
Exploit x_refsource_misc
http://uvw.ru/report.sid.txt
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7550

Scores

EPSS 0.0072
EPSS Percentile 48.8%

Details

CWE
CWE-59
Status published
Products (1)
apple/cups 1.3.8
Published Dec 08, 2008
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026