CVE-2006-5215: The Xsession script, as used by X Display Manager (xdm) in NetBSD before 20060212, X.Org before 20060317, and

Q: How do I fix CVE-2006-5215?

xdm: upgrade to newer than 1.0.3; netbsd: upgrade to newer than current; solaris: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2006-5215 being exploited?

CVE-2006-5215 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2006-5215 affect?

CVE-2006-5215 affects xdm, netbsd, solaris. Severity is low (CVSS 2.6). The Xsession script, as used by X Display Manager (xdm) in NetBSD before 20060212, X.Org before 20060317, and Solaris 8 through 10 before 20061006, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files, or read another user's Xsession errors file

Q: How urgent is CVE-2006-5215?

Priority 15/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Routine

LOW 2.6UPGRADEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2006-5215 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 2.6) affecting xdm, netbsd, solaris. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The Xsession script, as used by X Display Manager (xdm) in NetBSD before 20060212, X.Org before 20060317, and Solaris 8 through 10 before 20061006, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files, or read another user's Xsession errors file, via a symlink attack on a /tmp/xses-$USER file.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	2.6 (Low)
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 77%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2006-10-10
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: netbsd · sun · x.org

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2006-10-10 04:06 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:30 UTCUpdated Record last modified

x.org xdm UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.0.3

Fixed in: newer than 1.0.3

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy xdm || rpm -q xdm || xdm --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.0.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade xdm

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade xdm

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

netbsd netbsd UPGRADE

Affected: <= current · 1.0 · 1.1 · 1.2 · 1.2.1 · 1.3 · 1.3.1 · 1.3.2

Fixed in: newer than current

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

sun solaris MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 8.0 beta · 9.0 · 9.0 x86_update_2 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

sun sunos MITIGATE

Affected: 5.8 · 5.9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.8

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2006-5215?

xdm: upgrade to newer than 1.0.3; netbsd: upgrade to newer than current; solaris: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2006-5215 being exploited?

CVE-2006-5215 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2006-5215 affect?

CVE-2006-5215 affects xdm, netbsd, solaris. Severity is low (CVSS 2.6). The Xsession script, as used by X Display Manager (xdm) in NetBSD before 20060212, X.Org before 20060317, and Solaris 8 through 10 before 20061006, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files, or read another user's Xsession errors file

How urgent is CVE-2006-5215?

Priority 15/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Related CVEs

CVE-2006-4447 HIGH 7.2 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE X.Org and XFree86, including libX11, xdm, xf86dga, xinit, xload, xtrans, and xterm, does not check the return
CVE-2004-0419 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE XDM in XFree86 opens a chooserFd TCP socket even when DisplayManager.requestPort is 0, which could allow remot

References

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