Critical Security Flaw in Ubuntu 25.04 (USN-7620-1): libfile-find-rule-perl Vulnerability Explained

 

Ubuntu 25.04, 24.10, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS face a critical security flaw (CVE-2011-10007) in libfile-find-rule-perl. Learn how malicious file names can execute arbitrary code, patch instructions, and secure your Linux system now.

Severity & Impact: A High-Risk Perl Module Vulnerability

A zero-day exploit in File::Find::Rule (Perl module) allows arbitrary code execution when processing specially crafted file names. Affected Ubuntu releases include:

• Ubuntu 25.04 (latest release)

• Ubuntu 24.10 (interim release)

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (long-term support)

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (still widely deployed)

Why is this dangerous?

• Attackers can escalate privileges via malicious filenames.

• No user interaction required—exploitable via automated scripts.

• Impacts system administrators, DevOps, and cloud deployments.

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Patch & Mitigation: Immediate Update Required

Affected Package Versions & Fixes:

Ubuntu Version	Vulnerable Package	Patched Version
25.04	libfile-find-rule-perl	0.34-3ubuntu0.25.04.1
24.10	libfile-find-rule-perl	0.34-3ubuntu0.24.10.1
24.04 LTS	libfile-find-rule-perl	0.34-3ubuntu0.24.04.1
22.04 LTS	libfile-find-rule-perl	0.34-1ubuntu0.22.04.1

How to Update:

1. Run:

   bash

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade libfile-find-rule-perl -y

2. Reboot if kernel-related dependencies were updated.

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Technical Deep Dive: How the Exploit Works

• Vulnerability Type: Directory Traversal + Code Injection

• Root Cause: Improper sanitization of Perl file-search patterns.

• Attack Vector: A malicious filename triggers command execution when parsed by File::Find::Rule.

• CVE Reference: CVE-2011-10007

Who’s at Risk?

• Web servers using Perl-based file indexing.

• Automated backup scripts relying on file search.

• Shared hosting environments with multi-user access.

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Best Practices for Linux Security

✅ Enable Automatic Updates:

bash

sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades

✅ Monitor Logs: Check /var/log/auth.log for suspicious activity.
✅ Restrict Permissions: Use chmod 700 on sensitive directories.

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FAQ: Ubuntu Security Advisory

Q: Is this vulnerability actively exploited?

A: No confirmed attacks yet, but patches should be applied immediately.

Q: Does this affect other Linux distros?

A: Only Ubuntu derivatives are confirmed vulnerable.

Q: Can firewalls block this exploit?

A: No—this is a local file-system issue, not network-based.