CVE-2021-35938 · cross-distro fix matrix

CVE-2021-35938: 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. T

Affects 7 Linux releases across 7 (distro × package) combinations.

Fix per ecosystem

Each block below is a distro release where CVE-2021-35938 has a known fix. Run the listed command on that distro to remediate.

Debian bookworm

Source: Debian Security Tracker

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0+dfsg-1urgency: not yet assigned
```
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y rpm
```

Debian trixie

Source: Debian Security Tracker

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0+dfsg-1urgency: not yet assigned
```
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y rpm
```

Alpine v3.20

Source: Alpine secdb

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade rpm
```

Alpine v3.21

Source: Alpine secdb

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade rpm
```

Alpine edge

Source: Alpine secdb

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade rpm
```

Alpine v3.18

Source: Alpine secdb

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade rpm
```

Alpine v3.19

Source: Alpine secdb

rpm→ fixed in4.18.0-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade rpm
```

Are YOU affected by CVE-2021-35938?

5-second check on your actual server. Reads /etc/os-release, uname -r, and the distro's package manager; matches against this same cross-source index live.

curl https://mindsparkstack.com/scan.sh | bash

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