CVE-2015-5287: Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

What it is

Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool (ABRT) contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow local users with certain permissions to gain privileges via a symlink attack on a file with a predictable name. The impacted product(s) could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users are advised to discontinue use and/or transition to a supported version.

What to do

Schedule the vendor fix into this week’s change window, prioritising internet-facing and business-critical systems. Confirm the fix is applied everywhere, not just where it was easy.

Priority

This week: Schedule into this week’s change window.

Severity (CVSS)

7.8 high

CISA assessment (SSVC)

actively exploited; needs manual effort per target; total control of the affected system

Exploit probability (EPSS, 30 days)

5.0%, higher than 91% of all CVEs

Added to CISA KEV

26 August 2026

CISA fix-by date

9 September 2026 (US federal agencies; a sensible deadline for everyone)

Ransomware use

Not known

Weakness

CWE-59

References

• NIST NVD entry
• CISA KEV entry
• rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2505.html
• www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/12/01/1
• www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
• www.securityfocus.com/bid/78137
• bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1266837

Sources: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities · FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) · NIST National Vulnerability Database · CISA Vulnrichment (SSVC), via the CVE Program. This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Summaries are machine-written from CISA’s description; treat the vendor’s advisory as the authority for fixes.