CVE-2021-44730 : What You Need to Know

snapd could be made to escalate privileges and run programs as administrator.

Understanding CVE-2021-44730

snapd 2.54.2 did not properly validate the location of the snap-confine binary, leading to privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2021-44730?

This CVE addresses a vulnerability in snapd versions less than or equal to 2.54.2 that could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary binaries by hardlinking the snap-confine binary.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44730

High Severity: Base score of 7.8 with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Local Attack Vector: Exploitable by a local attacker with low privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44730

snapd vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in snapd 2.54.2 allows local attackers to escalate privileges by manipulating the snap-confine binary's location.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: snapd 2.54.2 (unspecified custom version).

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: High
Scope: Changed
No user interaction required

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2021-44730.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update snapd to versions 2.54.3+18.04, 2.54.3+20.04, or 2.54.3+21.10.1.
Monitor for any unauthorized binary executions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege for system users.
Regularly review and update access control policies.
Conduct security trainings for employees on best security practices.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security advisories from Canonical Ltd.
Apply updates promptly to ensure system security.