The (1) kantiword (kantiword.sh) and (2) gantiword (gantiword.sh) scripts in antiword 0.35 and earlier allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary (a) output and (b) error files.

rm_mlcache_file in bos.rte.install in AIX 5.1.0 through 5.3.0 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

Firefox before 1.0.1 and Mozilla before 1.7.6 allows remote malicious web sites to overwrite arbitrary files by tricking the user into downloading a .LNK (link) file twice, which overwrites the file that was referenced in the first .LNK file.

Internet Explorer 5.01 and earlier allows a remote attacker to create a reference to a client window and use a server-side redirect to access local files via that window, aka "Server-side Page Reference Redirect."

BSD pppd allows local users to change the permissions of arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a file that is specified as a tty device.

mysql: mysqlaccess creates/overwrite files on the system

The mysqlaccess script in MySQL 4.0.23 and earlier, 4.1.x before 4.1.10, 5.0.x before 5.0.3, and other versions including 3.x, allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files or read temporary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

cPanel 9.4.1-RELEASE-64 follows hard links, which allows local users to (1) read arbitrary files via the backup feature or (2) chown arbitrary files via the .htaccess file when Front Page extensions are enabled or disabled.

The LiveUpdate capability (liveupdate.sh) in Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine 4.0 and 4.3 for Red Hat Linux allows local users to create or append to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on /tmp/LiveUpdate.log.

security flaw

script command in the util-linux package before 2.11n allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files by setting a hardlink from the typescript log file to any file on the system, then having root execute the script command.

GNU Gnump3d before 2.9.8 allows local users to modify or delete arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the index.lok temporary file.

temporary file vulnerabilities in various ghostscript scripts.

The (1) pj-gs.sh, (2) ps2epsi, (3) pv.sh, and (4) sysvlp.sh scripts in the ESP Ghostscript (espgs) package in Trustix Secure Linux 1.5 through 2.1, and other operating systems, allow local users to overwrite files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

Hard link and possibly symbolic link following vulnerabilities in QNX RTOS 4.25 (aka QNX4) allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via (1) the -f argument to the monitor utility, (2) the -d argument to dumper, (3) the -c argument to crttrap, or (4) using the Watcom sample utility.

passwd in Directory Services in Mac OS X 10.3.x before 10.3.9 and 10.4.x before 10.4.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the .pwtmp.[PID] temporary file.

security flaw

fetchmailconf in fetchmail before 5.7.4 allows local users to overwrite files of other users via a symlink attack on temporary files.

security flaw

Joe text editor follows symbolic links when creating a rescue copy called DEADJOE during an abnormal exit, which allows local users to overwrite the files of other users whose joe session crashes.

WFTPD 3.00 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files by uploading a (link) file that ends in a ".lnk." extension, which bypasses WFTPD's check for a ".lnk" extension.

security flaw

DiskCheck script diskcheck.pl in Red Hat Linux 6.2 allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a temporary file.

Avira Internet Security Arbitrary File Deletion via Improper Link Resolution

Avira Internet Security contains an improper link resolution vulnerability in the Software Updater component. During the update process, a privileged service running as SYSTEM deletes a file under C:\\ProgramData without validating whether the path resolves through a symbolic link or reparse point. A local attacker can create a malicious link to redirect the delete operation to an arbitrary file, resulting in deletion of attacker-chosen files with SYSTEM privileges. This may lead to local privilege escalation, denial of service, or system integrity compromise depending on the targeted file and operating system configuration.

macOS Privilege Escalation via Improper Symlink Handling

This issue was addressed with improved handling of symlinks. This issue is fixed in macOS Tahoe 26.3. An app may be able to gain root privileges.

Windows App for Mac Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows App for Mac allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.