CVE-2021-32000

Arbitrary file deletion via followed queue symlinks

Published Jul 28, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Symlink following in clone-master-clean-up on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and openSUSE Factory allows local users to delete arbitrary files. The cleanup script expands files beneath fixed Postfix queue paths before rm runs, so a queue-directory symlink redirects deletion into its target. A local user must plant the symlink and a privileged user must confirm and run the root-only cleanup, after which files reachable through the link are removed.

CVSS severity5.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Symlink following in clone-master-clean-up on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and openSUSE Factory allows local users to delete arbitrary files. The cleanup script expands files beneath fixed Postfix queue paths before rm runs, so a queue-directory symlink redirects deletion into its target. A local user must plant the symlink and a privileged user must confirm and run the root-only cleanup, after which files reachable through the link are removed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32000
Published
Jul 28, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
SUSE
Product
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
Classifications
CWE-59, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 28, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=clone-master-clean-up <=1.6-3.9.1
  2. Affected versionversion=clone-master-clean-up <=1.6-4.6.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SUSE · SUSE Linux Enterprise Serverversion=clone-master-clean-up <=1.6-3.9.1; version=clone-master-clean-up <=1.6-4.6.1
OpenSUSE · openSUSE Factoryversion=clone-master-clean-up <=1.6-1.4

Published CVSS scores

3.2NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
5.0SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/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')
T1485Data Destruction

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo