# CVE-2021-32550: apport read_file() function could follow maliciously constructed symbolic links

> Local attackers can exploit symbolic link handling in apport to expose private data to other users via OpenJDK hooks.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 12 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x4fx-g8rh-wxj5, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-32550

## What is CVE-2021-32550?

CVE-2021-32550 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-14 package apport hooks, it could expose private data to other local users.

Weakness: CWE-61 (UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following), CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-32550?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-32550?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2021-32550 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32550 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-32550 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-32550 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32550 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. 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-2021-32550/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32550/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32550
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32550
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-32550

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32550/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.