--- title: "CVE-2012-3440\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-2012-3440?format=md keywords: index, follow --- # CVE-2012-3440 Publication date 8 August 2012 Last updated 24 July 2024 --- Ubuntu priority **Medium** [Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority ) Toggle side navigation ## Description A certain Red Hat script for sudo 1.7.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /var/tmp/nsswitch.conf.bak temporary file. [Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-3440?format=md#notes) ## Status Show unmaintained releases | Package | Ubuntu Release | Status | | --- | --- | --- | | sudo | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 11.10 oneiric | Not affected | | 11.04 natty | Not affected | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected | --- * [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 --- ### [tyhicks](https://launchpad.net/~tyhicks) This is a script specific to Red Hat's sudo package ## References * [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-3440) * [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3440) * [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2012-3440) * [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-3440) ### Other references * *