CVE-2021-32547

Local data disclosure via unsafe file opening

Published Jun 12, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper link resolution in Apport allows local users to read private data through crafted symlinks or FIFOs in openjdk-lts hooks. The read_file() function in apport/hookutils.py opens attacker-controlled paths without rejecting symbolic links or FIFO objects, so hook processing can read unintended files. Local users need the ability to place or influence a path consumed by an openjdk-lts Apport hook; impact is confidentiality loss without reported integrity or availability effects.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Apport allows local users to read private data through crafted symlinks or FIFOs in openjdk-lts hooks. The read_file() function in apport/hookutils.py opens attacker-controlled paths without rejecting symbolic links or FIFO objects, so hook processing can read unintended files. Local users need the ability to place or influence a path consumed by an openjdk-lts Apport hook; impact is confidentiality loss without reported integrity or availability effects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32547
Published
Jun 12, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Canonical
Product
Apport
Classifications
CWE-61, CWE-59, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 12, 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

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=2.14.1-0ubuntu3 <2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7
  2. Affected versionversion=2.20.11-0ubuntu27 <2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18
  3. Affected versionversion=2.20.11-0ubuntu50 <2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7
  4. Affected versionversion=2.20.11-0ubuntu65 <2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1
  5. Affected versionversion=2.20.1 <2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1
  6. Affected versionversion=2.20.9 <2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Canonical · Apportversion=2.14.1-0ubuntu3 <2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm7; version=2.20.11-0ubuntu27 <2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18; version=2.20.11-0ubuntu50 <2.20.11-0ubuntu50.7; version=2.20.11-0ubuntu65 <2.20.11-0ubuntu65.1; version=2.20.1 <2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm1; version=2.20.9 <2.20.9-0ubuntu7.24

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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 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-61UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1005Data from Local System

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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