CVE-2021-41072

Name: CVE-2021-41072
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2021-09-14T01:15:07.747+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 8.1/10EPSS 2.14%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2021-41072 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 8.1/10 on the CVSS scale. squashfs_opendir in unsquash-2.c in Squashfs-Tools 4.5 allows Directory Traversal, a different vulnerability than CVE-2021-40153. A squashfs filesystem that has been crafted to include a symbolic link and then contents under the same filename in a filesystem can cause unsquashfs to first create the symbolic link pointing outside the expected directory, and then the subsequent write operation will cause the unsquashfs process to write through the symbolic link elsewhere in the filesystem.. EPSS estimates a 2.14% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

squashfs_opendir in unsquash-2.c in Squashfs-Tools 4.5 allows Directory Traversal, a different vulnerability than CVE-2021-40153. A squashfs filesystem that has been crafted to include a symbolic link and then contents under the same filename in a filesystem can cause unsquashfs to first create the symbolic link pointing outside the expected directory, and then the subsequent write operation will cause the unsquashfs process to write through the symbolic link elsewhere in the filesystem.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

8.1/10

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

EPSS Probability

2.14%

79.7th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Squashfs-Tools Project	Squashfs-Tools	4.5
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0
Debian	Debian Linux	10.0
Debian	Debian Linux	11.0

References

https://github.com/plougher/squashfs-tools/commit/e0485802ec72996c20026da320650d8362f555bdPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/plougher/squashfs-tools/issues/72#issuecomment-913833405Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/10/msg00017.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-29
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4987Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/plougher/squashfs-tools/commit/e0485802ec72996c20026da320650d8362f555bdPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/plougher/squashfs-tools/issues/72#issuecomment-913833405Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/10/msg00017.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202305-29
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4987Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Sep 14, 2021
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-41072?

How severe is CVE-2021-41072?

CVE-2021-41072 has a CVSS score of 8.1/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 2.14% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2021-41072?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2021-41072?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST