CVE-2009-5079 · cross-distro fix matrix

CVE-2009-5079: The (1) gendef.sh, (2) doc/fixinfo.sh, and (3) contrib/gdiffmk/tests/runtests.in scripts in GNU troff (aka groff) 1.21 and earlier allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a gro#####.tmp or /tmp/##### temporary file.

Affects 3 Linux releases across 3 (distro × package) combinations.

Fix per ecosystem

Each block below is a distro release where CVE-2009-5079 has a known fix. Run the listed command on that distro to remediate.

Debian bullseye

Source: Debian Security Tracker

groff→ fixed in1.20.1-5urgency: unimportant

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y groff

Debian bookworm

Source: Debian Security Tracker

groff→ fixed in1.20.1-5urgency: unimportant

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y groff

Debian trixie

Source: Debian Security Tracker

groff→ fixed in1.20.1-5urgency: unimportant

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y groff

Are YOU affected by CVE-2009-5079?

5-second check on your actual server. Reads /etc/os-release, uname -r, and the distro's package manager; matches against this same cross-source index live.

curl https://mindsparkstack.com/scan.sh | bash

Form-based quickscan View on NVD

Continuous monitoring beats manual checking

CVE-2009-5079dropped silently in your distro's update channel. Every new CVE is the same story. StackPatch runs the matcher hourly against all 5 sources and emails the exact remediation when something new applies to one of your servers. $99 lifetime, 50 founder seats, 30-day refund.

See StackPatch ($99 lifetime)