CVE-2021-32551

Local data disclosure via unsafe path opening

Published Jun 12, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper link handling in Canonical Apport allows local users to read private data through OpenJDK 15 crash-report hooks. The read_file() routine in apport/hookutils.py opens attacker-controlled paths without rejecting symbolic links or FIFOs, so a hook can consume a linked file or named-pipe data. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an OpenJDK 15 Apport hook invocation; the reported consequence is disclosure to another local user.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link handling in Canonical Apport allows local users to read private data through OpenJDK 15 crash-report hooks. The read_file() routine in apport/hookutils.py opens attacker-controlled paths without rejecting symbolic links or FIFOs, so a hook can consume a linked file or named-pipe data. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and an OpenJDK 15 Apport hook invocation; the reported consequence is disclosure to another local user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32551
Published
Jun 12, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 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 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=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

5.5Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
7.3Canonical Ltd. CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/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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