Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-32547 is a local Ubuntu apport issue where crash-report helper code could follow attacker-controlled symbolic links or open FIFOs. In the documented OpenJDK LTS hook use case, this could leak private data to another local user on the same system.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on shared Ubuntu servers, developer workstations, and systems handling sensitive data. The issue is local, not remotely exploitable from the evidence provided, but the confidentiality impact is high.
Technical view
The vulnerable read_file() function in apport/hookutils.py did not safely handle symbolic links or FIFOs. When invoked by openjdk-lts apport hooks, a low-privileged local user could influence what is read, causing high confidentiality impact and limited availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant on Ubuntu systems running affected Canonical apport versions, especially where openjdk-lts apport hooks are present and untrusted local users have shell or process access.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation is local, low complexity, requires low privileges, and does not require user interaction, according to the supplied CVSS vector.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Launchpad reference in the bundle. Do not assume additional affected hooks beyond openjdk-lts. The core weakness maps to unsafe link following and symbolic link handling, CWE-59 and CWE-61.
Mitigation direction
- Update apport and related Ubuntu packages using Canonical guidance.
- Check Launchpad or Ubuntu advisories for fixed package versions.
- Reduce untrusted local user access on affected multi-user systems.
- Disable unnecessary crash-reporting hooks only if vendor guidance supports it.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Ubuntu hosts for affected apport package versions.
- Check whether openjdk-lts apport hooks are installed or enabled.
- Confirm vendor-fixed packages are installed after remediation.
- Review local multi-user systems for higher confidentiality exposure.
- Document any compensating controls where patching is delayed.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-59: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-61: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-32547 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L24.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.3HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apport/+bug/1917904CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following
UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.