CVE catalog

CVE-2008-4996

initramfs-tools: CVE-2008-4996

Severity: Low
Published: Nov 7, 2008, 7:36:23 PM UTC
Source: [NVD] · [CVE record]
EPSS: 0.43% · Oct 25, 2026

init in initramfs-tools 0.92f allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the /tmp/initramfs.debug temporary file. NOTE: the vendor disputes this vulnerability, stating that "init is [used in] a single-user context; there's no possibility that this is exploitable.

Vulnerable and fixed packages

Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.

Distribution	Package	Release	Version	Status
Debian	initramfs-tools	sid	`0.151`	vulnerable
Debian	initramfs-tools	forky	`0.151`	vulnerable
Debian	initramfs-tools	trixie	`0.148.4`	vulnerable
Debian	initramfs-tools	bookworm	`0.142+deb12u3`	vulnerable

Fixed-version evidence

Distribution	Package	Type	Release	Fixed version	Urgency	Origin	Bugs
Debian	initramfs-tools	source	sid	`(unfixed)`	unimportant	Not reported	[496386]
Debian	initramfs-tools	source	forky	`(unfixed)`	unimportant	Not reported	[496386]
Debian	initramfs-tools	source	trixie	`(unfixed)`	unimportant	Not reported	[496386]
Debian	initramfs-tools	source	bookworm	`(unfixed)`	unimportant	Not reported	[496386]

[Debian bug #496386]

OpenFactory catalog packages

[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]

[initramfs-tools]Affected
Details (2)
- 0.142+deb12u3 · all · bookworm
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · bookworm; dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 12
- 0.142+deb12u3 · all · bookworm
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · bookworm; dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 12
[initramfs-tools-core]Affected
Source package: [initramfs-tools]
Details (2)
- 0.142+deb12u3 · all · bookworm
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · bookworm; dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 12
- 0.142+deb12u3 · all · bookworm
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · bookworm; dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 12

[Debian 13 (Trixie)]

[initramfs-tools]Affected
Details (2)
- 0.148.4 · all · trixie
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 13
- 0.148.4 · all · trixie
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 13
[initramfs-tools-bin]Affected
Source package: [initramfs-tools]
Details (2)
- 0.148.4 · amd64 · trixie
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 13
- 0.148.4 · arm64 · trixie
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 13
[initramfs-tools-core]Affected
Source package: [initramfs-tools]
Details (2)
- 0.148.4 · all · trixie
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 13
- 0.148.4 · all · trixie
  Affected
  dsa · initramfs-tools · debian · 13

Observed: Oct 23, 2026, 5:04:22 PM UTC

References

[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database]