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CVE Record

CVE-2011-3151: SELinux initscript misuse of touch

The Ubuntu SELinux initscript before version 1:0.10 used touch to create a lockfile in a world-writable directory. If the OS kernel does not have symlink protections then an attacker can cause a zero byte file to be allocated on any writable filesystem.

MediumCVSS 5.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a legacy Ubuntu SELinux initscript issue. A local user could abuse unsafe lockfile creation in a world-writable directory to create empty files on writable filesystems when kernel symlink protections are absent. It is not described as remote code execution.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted legacy hardening issue, not an emergency. Patch or retire affected Ubuntu SELinux deployments, with priority for shared systems where untrusted local users have shell or workload access.

Technical view

SELinux initscript versions before 1:0.10 used touch for a lockfile in a world-writable directory. If the kernel lacks symlink protections, a low-privileged local attacker could redirect the operation and cause zero-byte file allocation. CVSS 3.0 is 5.2, local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to older Ubuntu systems using the affected SELinux initscript before version 1:0.10, especially where kernel symlink protections are unavailable or disabled. The provided affected-product metadata is incomplete.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Exploitation requires local access and a kernel environment without symlink protections, which lowers broad enterprise urgency but matters for legacy multi-user systems.

Researcher notes

Evidence is narrow but consistent: the CVE description and Launchpad debdiff point to unsafe lockfile creation by touch. Affected-product metadata in the bundle is generic, so validation should rely on package version and initscript behavior, not CPE matching.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade the Ubuntu SELinux package to version 1:0.10 or later where applicable.
  • Review vendor guidance for affected Ubuntu releases before changing legacy systems.
  • Ensure kernel symlink protection behavior is enabled where supported.
  • Prioritize remediation on shared or multi-user hosts.

Validation and detection

  • Identify systems with the Ubuntu SELinux initscript installed.
  • Confirm the SELinux package version is before 1:0.10 or not.
  • Review whether the lockfile path uses a world-writable directory.
  • Verify kernel symlink protections are present and active.
  • Check change records for the referenced Ubuntu package debdiff.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

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

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2011-3151 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.2CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L22.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

5.2Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2011-3151Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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