CVE-2012-6648: gdm/guest-session-cleanup.sh in gdm-guest-session 0.24 and earlier, as used in Ubuntu Linux 10.04 LTS, 10.10,

Q: How do I fix CVE-2012-6648?

gdm-guest-session: upgrade to newer than 0.24; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2012-6648 being exploited?

CVE-2012-6648 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-2012-6648 affect?

CVE-2012-6648 affects gdm-guest-session, ubuntu linux. Severity is low (CVSS 2.1). gdm/guest-session-cleanup.sh in gdm-guest-session 0.24 and earlier, as used in Ubuntu Linux 10.04 LTS, 10.10, and 11.04, allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a space in the name of a file in /tmp. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT

Q: How urgent is CVE-2012-6648?

Priority 20/100. On your watchlist

Routine

LOW 2.1WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2012-6648 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 2.1) affecting gdm-guest-session, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

gdm/guest-session-cleanup.sh in gdm-guest-session 0.24 and earlier, as used in Ubuntu Linux 10.04 LTS, 10.10, and 11.04, allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a space in the name of a file in /tmp. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT from CVE-2012-0943 per ADT1/ADT2 due to different codebases and affected versions. CVE-2012-0943 is used for the guest-account issue.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	2.1 (Low)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 68%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-264
Published	2014-05-22
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · gdm-guest-session project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-05-22 23:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:48 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gdm-guest-session project gdm-guest-session UPGRADE

Affected: <= 0.24 · 0.20 · 0.21 · 0.22 · 0.23

Fixed in: newer than 0.24

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gdm-guest-session || rpm -q gdm-guest-session || gdm-guest-session --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.24 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade gdm-guest-session

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade gdm-guest-session

Note

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

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.04 · 10.10 · 11.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.04

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-2012-6648?

gdm-guest-session: upgrade to newer than 0.24; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-6648 being exploited?

CVE-2012-6648 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-2012-6648 affect?

CVE-2012-6648 affects gdm-guest-session, ubuntu linux. Severity is low (CVSS 2.1). gdm/guest-session-cleanup.sh in gdm-guest-session 0.24 and earlier, as used in Ubuntu Linux 10.04 LTS, 10.10, and 11.04, allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a space in the name of a file in /tmp. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT

How urgent is CVE-2012-6648?

Priority 20/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

References

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