CVE-2021-25322Public exploit

Root escalation via symlink-following permissions repair

Published Jun 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Symlink following in python-HyperKitty on openSUSE Leap 15.2 and Factory allows local users with service-account access to gain root. The root-run hyperkitty-fix-permissions script recursively changes ownership and ACLs in service-user-controlled directories and follows staged links to arbitrary files. Access as hyperkitty-admin, or as hyperkitty where the data directory is reachable, is required; the demonstrated attack makes /etc/shadow writable.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink following in python-HyperKitty on openSUSE Leap 15.2 and Factory allows local users with service-account access to gain root. The root-run hyperkitty-fix-permissions script recursively changes ownership and ACLs in service-user-controlled directories and follows staged links to arbitrary files. Access as hyperkitty-admin, or as hyperkitty where the data directory is reachable, is required; the demonstrated attack makes /etc/shadow writable.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25322
Published
Jun 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
OpenSUSE
Product
openSUSE Leap
Classifications
CWE-61, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=python-HyperKitty <=1.3.2-lp152.2.3.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSUSE · openSUSE Leapversion=python-HyperKitty <=1.3.2-lp152.2.3.1
OpenSUSE · openSUSE Factoryversion=python-HyperKitty <1.3.4-5.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.8SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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