---
title: "CVE-2018-10361\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-2018-10361?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2018-10361

Publication date 25 April 2018

Last updated 26 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-10361?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

An issue was discovered in KTextEditor 5.34.0 through 5.45.0. Insecure
handling of temporary files in the KTextEditor's kauth\_ktexteditor\_helper
service (as utilized in the Kate text editor) can allow other unprivileged
users on the local system to gain root privileges. The attack occurs when
one user (who has an unprivileged account but is also able to authenticate
as root) writes a text file using Kate into a directory owned by a another
unprivileged user. The latter unprivileged user conducts a symlink attack
to achieve privilege escalation.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ktexteditor | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not affected |
| 25.10 questing | Not affected |
| 25.04 plucky | Not affected |
| 24.10 oracular | Not affected |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not affected |
| 23.10 mantic | Not affected |
| 23.04 lunar | Not affected |
| 22.10 kinetic | Not affected |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 21.04 hirsute | Not affected |
| 20.10 groovy | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Not affected |
| 19.04 disco | Ignored end of life |
| 18.10 cosmic | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Vulnerable |
| 17.10 artful | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

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

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-10361)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-10361)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2018-10361)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-10361)

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/04/24/1>
* <https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1033055>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-10361>