PatchTheCVECVE-2009-5023: The (1) dshield.conf, (2) mail-buffered.conf, (3) mynetwatchman.conf, and (4) mynetwatchman.conf actions in ac
CVE-2009-5023 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.7) affecting fail2ban. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
The (1) dshield.conf, (2) mail-buffered.conf, (3) mynetwatchman.conf, and (4) mynetwatchman.conf actions in action.d/ in Fail2ban before 0.8.5 allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files with predictable names, as demonstrated by /tmp/fail2ban-mail.txt.
Why this priority
- No elevated risk signals yet
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 4.7 (Medium) |
| EPSS exploit chance | 0.3% (top 72%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-59 |
| Published | 2014-06-10 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-16 |
Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
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-2009-5023?
fail2ban: upgrade to newer than 0.8.4. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2009-5023 being exploited?
CVE-2009-5023 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-2009-5023 affect?
CVE-2009-5023 affects fail2ban. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.7). The (1) dshield.conf, (2) mail-buffered.conf, (3) mynetwatchman.conf, and (4) mynetwatchman.conf actions in action.d/ in Fail2ban before 0.8.5 allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files with predi
How urgent is CVE-2009-5023?
Priority 23/100. No elevated risk signals yet.
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