CVE-2021-35939
rpm: checks for unsafe symlinks are not performed for intermediary directories
Severity
ModerateRed Hat Product Security
CVSS 3.1
Review impact separately from score.
Published · June 30, 2021
Updated · November 21, 2025
Description
It was found that the fix for CVE-2017-7500 and CVE-2017-7501 was incomplete: the check was only implemented for the parent directory of the file to be created. A local unprivileged user who owns another ancestor directory could potentially use this flaw to gain root privileges. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.
Statement
System and service accounts may have the required permissions to exploit this flaw. Conversely, regular user accounts should not be allowed to manipulate RPM artifacts during installation, thus reducing the attack surface and hence the impact of this flaw considerably.
CVSS score applicability
The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
CVSS / CWE
CVSS 3.1 · 6.5CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')