CVE-2021-31997

Local root escalation via symlink-following permission script

Published Jun 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Symlink following in python-postorius on openSUSE Factory allows local users to escalate from service accounts to root. The postorius-permissions.sh package script runs as root and recursively changes ownership and ACLs under user-controlled data and log directories while following staged symlinks. SUSE later reported that Leap 15.2 lacked the script, while compromised postorius or postorius-admin accounts can exploit affected Factory installations.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.34%
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-postorius on openSUSE Factory allows local users to escalate from service accounts to root. The postorius-permissions.sh package script runs as root and recursively changes ownership and ACLs under user-controlled data and log directories while following staged symlinks. SUSE later reported that Leap 15.2 lacked the script, while compromised postorius or postorius-admin accounts can exploit affected Factory installations.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31997
Published
Jun 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
OpenSUSE
Product
openSUSE Leap
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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-postorius <=1.3.2-lp152.1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSUSE · openSUSE Leapversion=python-postorius <=1.3.2-lp152.1.2
OpenSUSE · openSUSE Factoryversion=python-postorius <=1.3.4-2.1

Published CVSS scores

6.8SUSE CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
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

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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