Link following in binutils
Priority LOW 30CWE-59Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
There is an open race window when writing output in the following utilities in GNU binutils version 2.35 and earlier:ar, objcopy, strip, ranlib. When these utilities are run as a privileged user (presumably as part of a script updating binaries across different users), an unprivileged user can trick these utilities into getting ownership of arbitrary files through a symlink.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00304 23rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 2 fixed, 5 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | binutils | binutils 2.35 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- binutils Vendor— Affected binutils 2.35 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:binutils:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.35 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:broadcom:brocade_fabric_operating_system_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Broadcom |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:binutils:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.35 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:cloud_backup:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:broadcom:brocade_fabric_operating_system_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Broadcom
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2021:4364 Released 2021-11-09 · Red Hat rating Moderatebinutils security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) binutils-devel-2.30-108.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) binutils-2.30-108.el8
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) | Affected | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4364 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:4364 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-20197
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rq67-5wpf-96wv
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Sources
- CVE-2021-20197 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-20197 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rq67-5wpf-96wv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-20197 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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