CVE-2005-1038: crontab in Vixie cron 4.1, when running with the -e option, allows local users to read the cron files of ot...

Security readout for executives and security teams

A local user on a system with Vixie cron 4.1 may be able to read other users' crontab files when crontab is used with the edit option. The immediate business concern is exposure of scheduled task details, including possible credentials or operational scripts. The source data does not provide CVSS scoring. Exposure is most relevant on Unix/Linux systems with local user access and affected cron packages. Multi-user servers, shared administration hosts, and legacy systems are higher concern. The bundle does not identify remotely exploitable exposure. Treat this as a targeted legacy exposure issue, not an internet-wide emergency. Prioritize systems where untrusted or many users have local accounts, and verify vendor patch status before accepting risk. Mitigation focus: Check vendor advisories for affected cron or vixie-cron packages.; Apply supported OS package updates where the vendor marks this CVE fixed.; Prioritize multi-user and legacy Unix/Linux systems..

Prepared

Jun 30, 2026, 00:10 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.