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Vulnerability record · CVE-2021-35938 · published 25 August 2022

CVE-2021-35938: Rpm link following vulnerability

Rpm · Rpm

A symbolic link issue was found in rpm. It occurs when rpm sets the desired permissions and credentials after installing a file. A local unprivileged user could use this flaw to exchange the original file with a symbolic link to a security-critical file and escalate their privileges on the system. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

6.7 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 0.51% · top 57.6% CWE-59 · Link following
6.7CVSS 3.1 base score
0.51%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
3Affected product versions listed by NVD
14References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A symbolic link issue was found in rpm. It occurs when rpm sets the desired permissions and credentials after installing a file. A local unprivileged user could use this flaw to exchange the original file with a symbolic link to a security-critical file and escalate their privileges on the system. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

3 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-35938 Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1964114 Issue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1157880 ExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/rpm-software-management/rpm/commit/25a435e90844ea98fe5eb7bef22c1aecf3a9c033 PatchThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/rpm-software-management/rpm/pull/1919 PatchThird Party Advisory
https://rpm.org/wiki/Releases/4.18.0 Release Notes
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202210-22 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-35938 Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1964114 Issue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1157880 ExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/rpm-software-management/rpm/commit/25a435e90844ea98fe5eb7bef22c1aecf3a9c033 PatchThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/rpm-software-management/rpm/pull/1919 PatchThird Party Advisory
https://rpm.org/wiki/Releases/4.18.0 Release Notes
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202210-22 Third Party Advisory

Track CVE-2021-35938 inside VULONE

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2021-35938), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-17). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.