Lucene search
K

Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2018-6198

🗓️ 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 7 Views

Linux/Unix hosts have unpatched vulnerability CVE-2018-6198 allowing local symlink attacks.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
AlpineLinux
CVE-2018-6198
25 Jan 201803:00
alpinelinux
CNVD
w3m Arbitrary File Overwrite Vulnerability
25 Jan 201800:00
cnvd
CVE
CVE-2018-6198
25 Jan 201803:00
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2018-6198
25 Jan 201803:00
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2018-6198
25 Jan 201803:00
debiancve
FreeBSD
w3m - multiple vulnerabilities
25 Jan 201800:00
freebsd
Fedora
[SECURITY] Fedora 27 Update: w3m-0.5.3-36.git20180125.fc27
8 Feb 201813:12
fedora
Tenable Nessus
Fedora 27 : w3m (2018-0ad6e73ac0)
9 Feb 201800:00
nessus
Tenable Nessus
FreeBSD : w3m - multiple vulnerabilities (e72d5bf5-07a0-11e8-8248-0021ccb9e74d)
5 Feb 201800:00
nessus
Tenable Nessus
openSUSE Security Update : w3m (openSUSE-2019-1142)
5 Apr 201900:00
nessus
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(221908);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2025/09/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2018-6198");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2018-6198");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - w3m through 0.5.3 does not properly handle temporary files when the ~/.w3m directory is unwritable, which
    allows a local attacker to craft a symlink attack to overwrite arbitrary files. (CVE-2018-6198)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2018-6198");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2018-6198");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2018/01/23");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/03/04");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:5");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:w3m");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:w3m-img");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("set_linux_os_id.nasl", "ssh_get_info2.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/OS/identifier", "Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-5", "Host/OS/Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-5": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "5",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "w3m"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Red Hat Enterprise Linux-6": {
    "package_manager": "rpm-list",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "6",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "w3m"},
          {"reference": "w3m-img"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_NOTE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

Data

Build on a solid foundation with Vulners data

We provide the essential building blocks for cybersecurity solutions with comprehensive, structured, and constantly updated vulnerability and exploits data

Api

Power your application with Vulners API

The Vulners REST API offers reliable, high-performance access to vulnerability intelligence, with 99.9% SLA uptime and CDN-backed data delivery for seamless global access

App

Assess and manage vulnerabilities with Vulners tools

Built on top of Vulners' database and SDK, end-user solutions give security professionals and developers lightweight and powerful tools for vulnerability remediation

04 Sep 2025 00:00Current
6.4Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.4
CVSS 23.3
CVSS 34.7
EPSS0.00083
7