CVE-2021-3709

Arbitrary file read via crafted crash attachment

Published Oct 1, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Arbitrary file read in Canonical Apport before the listed Ubuntu fixes allows local users to expose sensitive files via a crafted crash report. The check_attachment_for_errors() function in data/general-hooks/ubuntu.py treats attacker-controlled attachment metadata as an Emacs byte-compilation log path and adds the referenced file without an authorization check. A local low-privileged account must submit a constructed crash file; successful processing copies arbitrary readable file contents into the report.

CVSS severity6.5

Medium

EPSS probability0.46%

Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026

Known exploitationUnconfirmed

Based on sourced intelligence

Hinoki checkNot available

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Summary

What happened

The record

CVE: CVE-2021-3709
Published: Oct 1, 2021
Updated: Sep 16, 2024

Vendor: Canonical
Product: Apport
Classifications: CWE-22, CWE-538, T1005

Attack vector: local
Privileges: authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

Oct 1, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
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.

Affected versionversion=2.14.1 <2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm8
Affected versionversion=2.20.11 <2.20.11-0ubuntu27.20 changes=[{"at":"2.20.11-0ubuntu65.3","status":"unaffected"}]
Affected versionversion=2.20.1 <2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm2
Affected versionversion=2.20.9 <2.20.9-0ubuntu7.26

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal

Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Canonical · Apportversion=2.14.1 <2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm8; version=2.20.11 <2.20.11-0ubuntu27.20 changes=[{"at":"2.20.11-0ubuntu65.3","status":"unaffected"}]; version=2.20.1 <2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30+esm2; version=2.20.9 <2.20.9-0ubuntu7.26

Published CVSS scores

2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

6.5Canonical Ltd.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

CWE-538Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory

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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