CVE-2021-32549 apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic links

What is CVE-2021-32549?

CVE-2021-32549 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 12 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

It was discovered that read_file() in apport/hookutils.py would follow symbolic links or open FIFOs. When this function is used by the openjdk-13 package apport hooks, it could expose private data to other local users.

Weakness: CWE-61, CWE-59

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-32549?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Canonical Ubuntu Linux.

How do I fix CVE-2021-32549?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.

Is CVE-2021-32549 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32549 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

• CVE-2020-11651 SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2020-7247 OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2019-16928 Exim Out-of-bounds Write Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2018-6789 Exim Buffer Overflow Exploited Critical 9.8
• CVE-2015-2590 Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution Exploited Critical 9.8

All Canonical Ubuntu Linux vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-j4vv-pj3g-5523, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-32549.