# CVE-2021-31998: inn: %post calls user owned file allowing local privilege escalation to root

> Local attackers can escalate privileges to root due to incorrect default permissions in the inn package's post-installation script.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rqpg-j7j6-g58g, SUSE-SU-2021:14750-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-31998, openSUSE-SU-2021:0830-1, openSUSE-SU-2021:0845-1

## What is CVE-2021-31998?

CVE-2021-31998 is a medium-severity vulnerability in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP3, published on 10 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerability in the packaging of inn of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP3; openSUSE Backports SLE-15-SP2, openSUSE Leap 15.2 allows local attackers to escalate their privileges from the news user to root. This issue affects: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP3 inn version inn-2.4.2-170.21.3.1 and prior versions. openSUSE Backports SLE-15-SP2 inn versions prior to 2.6.2. openSUSE Leap 15.2 inn versions prior to 2.6.2.

Weakness: CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-31998?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `inn` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | All versions | 2.4.2-170.21.3.6.1 |
| `inn` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | All versions | 2.4.2-170.21.3.6.1 |
| `inn` | SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP2 | All versions | 2.6.2-bp152.2.8.1 |
| `inn` | openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | All versions | 2.6.2-lp152.2.6.1 |

Products: Opensuse Inn.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-31998?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-31998 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-31998 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-31998 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-31998 is a medium-severity vulnerability in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP3, published on 10 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-31998 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP3. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31998/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31998/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-31998
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31998
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-31998

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31998/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.