apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic links
Priority LOW 32CWE-59Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
It was discovered that read_file() in apport/hookutils.py would follow symbolic links or open FIFOs. When this function is used by the xorg package apport hooks, it could expose private data to other local users.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00289 21st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed apport (Canonical): 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18 +3
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical | apport | 2.20.1 to before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1; 2.20.9 to before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24; 2.20.11-0ubuntu27 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18; 2.20.11-0ubuntu50 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7; 2.20.11-0ubuntu65 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1; 2.14.1-0ubuntu3 to before 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7 | 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18, 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7, 2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1, 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7 | Patch available | CNA |
- apport VendorCanonical Affected 2.20.1 to before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1; 2.20.9 to before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24; 2.20.11-0ubuntu27 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18; 2.20.11-0ubuntu50 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7; 2.20.11-0ubuntu65 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1; 2.14.1-0ubuntu3 to before 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7 Fixed in 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18, 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7, 2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1, 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 20.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 20.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:21.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 21.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:21.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 21.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 20.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:21.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 21.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:21.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 21.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
- Fix · CNA apport (Canonical) Fixed in 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18, 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7, 2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1, 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Canonical apport 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1 and 4 more versions
11 records Highest priority Priority LOW 11 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2021-12229 apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic linksPriority LOW 32
- TI-2021-12227 apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic linksPriority LOW 32
- TI-2021-12226 apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic linksPriority LOW 32
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-32554
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-q89m-78v7-wxvj
References
More Canonical Ubuntu Linux vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-09349 An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt before 2019.2.4 and 3000 before 3000.2. KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-05854 smtp_mailaddr in smtp_session.c in OpenSMTPD 6.6, as used in OpenBSD 6.6 and other… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-01431 Netlogon Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2019-12627 Exim 4.92 through 4.92.2 allows remote code execution, a different vulnerability than… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-08259 Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2019-07471 OS command injection in exim KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-32554 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-32554 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-q89m-78v7-wxvj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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