CVE-2021-32550 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been discovered in the 'read_file()' function in apport/hookutils.py that could allow exposure of private data to other local users.

Understanding CVE-2021-32550

This CVE impacts the 'apport' product by Canonical, affecting certain versions and posing a high severity risk.

What is CVE-2021-32550?

The vulnerability in the 'read_file()' function of apport could lead to exposure of private data to unauthorized local users due to the mishandling of symbolic links and FIFOs.

The Impact of CVE-2021-32550

With a CVSS base score of 7.3, this vulnerability has a high severity rating. It has a low attack complexity but high confidentiality impact, requiring low privileges to be exploited.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-32550

This section delves deeper into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper handling of symbolic links and FIFOs in the 'read_file()' function, leading to potential data exposure.

Affected Systems and Versions

The 'apport' product versions 2.20.1, 2.20.9, 2.20.11-0ubuntu27, 2.20.11-0ubuntu50, 2.20.11-0ubuntu65, and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited locally by manipulating symbolic links or FIFOs to gain access to private data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-32550 is crucial for maintaining data security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Canonical to address the vulnerability.
Restrict access to potentially vulnerable systems to authorized users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Monitor and restrict the creation of symbolic links by unauthorized users.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Canonical for the 'apport' product to ensure protection against CVE-2021-32550.