CVE-2021-32550: apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed…

Description

It was discovered that read_file() in apport/hookutils.py would follow symbolic links or open FIFOs. When this function is used by the openjdk-14 package apport hooks, it could expose private data to other local users.

Scores

CVSS scores of CVE-2021-32550, by who scored it
Scored by	CVSS	Score	Vector
canonicalCNA (assigner)	3.1	High7.3	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L
NVDNVD · Modified	3.1	Medium5.5	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

EPSS (exploitation in 30 days): 0.29% · top 78% of all CVEs (4 Nov 2026)

The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 7.3.

Weakness

CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-59 and its CVEs
CWE-61 UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-61 and its CVEs

Affected products

Canonical · apport
- affected 2.20.1 – < 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1
- affected 2.20.9 – < 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24
- affected 2.20.11-0ubuntu27 – < 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18
- affected 2.20.11-0ubuntu50 – < 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7
- affected 2.20.11-0ubuntu65 – < 2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1
- affected 2.14.1-0ubuntu3 – < 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7

References (1)

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apport/+bug/1917904 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred

Sources

The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.

Badge for a README or a ticket

[![CVE-2021-32550](https://trackcve.app/badge/CVE-2021-32550.svg)](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2021-32550)

Record last updated 16 Sept 2024, 23:22 UTC.

apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic links