---
title: "CVE-2009-2939\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-2939?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2009-2939

Publication date 21 September 2009

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**Negligible**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

The postfix.postinst script in the Debian GNU/Linux and Ubuntu postfix
2.5.5 package grants the postfix user write access to
/var/spool/postfix/pid, which might allow local users to conduct symlink
attacks that overwrite arbitrary files.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-2939?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| postfix | 10.10 maverick | Fixed 2.6.5-3 |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.5-3 |
| 9.10 karmic | Fixed 2.6.5-3 |
| 9.04 jaunty | Ignored end of life |
| 8.10 intrepid | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Fixed 2.5.1-2ubuntu1.3 |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Fixed 2.2.10-1ubuntu0.3 |

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* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [jdstrand](https://launchpad.net/~jdstrand)

per Weitse, the symlink attack should not be possible due to
defensive programming. A subverted postfix process running as 'postfix'
could replace the pid file, which master could then send signals to.

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-2939)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-2939)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2009-2939)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2009-2939)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-1113-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1113-1)
+ Postfix vulnerabilities
+ 18 April 2011

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/18/6>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-2939>