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-hwe-18.04 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-2021-12228 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-2021-32555
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-f5pc-m8jm-j5w6
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-2021-32555 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-32555 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-f5pc-m8jm-j5w6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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