CVE-2015-5287
CVE-2015-5287 — Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
The abrt-hook-ccpp help program in Automatic Bug Reporting Tool (ABRT) before 2.7.1 allows local users with certain permissions to gain privileges via a symlink attack on a file with a predictable name, as demonstrated by /var/tmp/abrt/abrt-hax-coredump or /var/spool/abrt/abrt-hax-coredump.
Published Updated Sources: NVD, Red Hat (CNA), CISA, FIRST EPSS, Exploit-DB, Red Hat (VEX), SOCRadar CTI
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the scoring sources call it.
Exploitation
Confirmed
CISA KEV, listed Aug 26, 2026
EPSS
5%
ahead of 92% of scored CVEs
CVSS base
7.8
high · 2 sources
Remediation
The vendor's own words where we have them.
Upgrade Automatic Bug Reporting Tool to a fixed release. Apply vendor patches per advisory and restrict external exposure of the affected component until patched.
CISA required action
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Federal deadline Sep 9, 2026 — in 9 days
Red Hat VEX · CVE-2015-5287
vendor_fix: Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. For details on how to apply this update, refer to: https://access.…
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record's own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found.
- Identify exposed assets running affected vendor/product/version combinations.
- Treat as emergency remediation because CISA KEV status is present.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors, authentication anomalies, or suspicious child processes matching the vulnerability class.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and version as the advisories word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Automatic Bug Reporting Tool | — | Vulnerable |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Availability
High
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Scope
Unchanged
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Vector
Local
Privileges Req
Low
User Interaction
None
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.8 | CVSS 3.1 | high | 1.8 | 5.9 | NVD, CNA |
| 6.9 | CVSS 2.0 | medium | 3.4 | 10 | NVD, Red Hat (VEX) |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
What this weakness leads to
MITRE's own consequences and mitigations for the weakness class — the authority's wording, not guidance derived from the CVSS vector.
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
- Read Files or Directories
- Modify Files or Directories
- Bypass Protection Mechanism
- Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Mitigation: Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system. Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.::
Weakness & attack patterns
- CWE-59Link Following
Attack patterns reported against this CVE. The ATT&CK techniques below are inferred from its weakness class.
- T1547.009Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Shortcut Modification
- T1574.005Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions Weakness
- T1574.010Hijack Execution Flow: Services File Permissions Weakness
CISA KEV details
CISA lists a CVE here once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
Listed
Aug 26, 2026
Federal deadline
Sep 9, 2026
in 9 days
Ransomware use
Unknown
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a date to argue against.
Public exploit
Capability, not use: code existing is a different claim from anyone running it.
Repositories
2
1 of the 2 sampled are weaponized
Exploit entries
8
Exploit-DB and CTI exploit indexes
Social mentions
Posts naming this CVE. Attention, not evidence of exploitation — it spikes on disclosure and decays whether or not anything is exploited.
#CRITICAL CVE-2015-5287: Red Hat ABRT privilege escalation via symlink attack. CISA KEV-listed. Affected products likely EoL/EoS—discontinue use immediately. Local attackers can gain elevated privileges. #CVE #Vulnerability #PatchNow #ThreatIntel #DFIR https://t.co/gO4sctGkuw
@DFIR_Lab· Aug 26, 2026
🛡️ CVE-2015-5287: Escalada de Privilegios en Red Hat ABRT mediante Ataque de Symlink Análisis técnico de CVE-2015-5287 en Red Hat ABRT: escalada de privilegios local mediante symlink attack. Puntuación CVSS 7.8 HIGH. Mitigaciones y referencias. https://t.co/yEqLGfXFCN
@CiberPlanetaOrg· Aug 26, 2026
CISA adds 6 active exploits to KEV • CVE-2015-3246 — Red Hat Libuser • CVE-2015-5287 — Red Hat ABRT • CVE-2019-1068 — Microsoft SQL Server • CVE-2021-23758 — https://t.co/VFhEdKfw8c Professional • CVE-2022-0995 — Linux Kernel • CVE-2026-8452 — Citrix NetScaler ADC/Gateway
@kaotickjay· Aug 26, 2026
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not rules we have tested.
- Search application, proxy, and WAF logs for requests touching /var/tmp/abrt/abrt-hax-coredump, /var/spool/abrt/abrt-hax-coredump.
- Monitor for scanner or exploit-pattern traffic after 10 public PoC repositories were reported.
Groups associated with this CVE
Groups reported in connection with this vulnerability. A reported association, not a confirmed observation of that group using it — and not scoped to any sector or campaign.
- hash37cabc04da36e710dd4aee8609ab7553c039a54dd085460854e9ddb49b0e703286
Public Malware Feeds · Aug 20, 2026
- hashd190b349d791267a9583ba9f4a1ab0e4199d1a3abfd4dae514ed5def0754ba9471
Cisco Talos · Aug 20, 2026
- hash8280502c2c6902e61fc4c02a9a81b4720688449a5bca3d89dbd1e2edd507c69a71
Cisco Talos · Aug 20, 2026
- hash23a83c6bbdd7d6c09a5187338065d15f2a90a252772813cba83b9818aa56cef771
Cisco Talos · Aug 20, 2026
- hash00892f276299a13721642e8a9bcbcb949a658547c6c8271866a1997b79f1e5c571
Cisco Talos · Aug 20, 2026
5 more indicators on this CVEShowing 5 of 10 · Hashes, addresses and domains from a live threat exchangeUnlock freeTimeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first — with the readings a source repeats on a schedule counted underneath rather than listed.
- 2026
Added · CVSS 3.1 7.8 (AV:L)
Aug 27, 2026 · NVD
Added to CISA KEV catalog
Aug 26, 2026 · CISA
- 2023
CVE is exploited. "ARPSyndicate/cvemon"
Dec 10, 2023 · SOCRadar CTI
- 2019
Added · Verified local entry: ABRT - sosreport Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)
Sep 25, 2019 · Exploit-DB
Added · Verified local entry: ABRT - sosreport Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)
Sep 25, 2019 · Exploit-DB
- 2015
Initial · CVE published
Dec 7, 2015 · NVD
Added · Verified local entry: RHEL 7.0/7.1 - 'abrt/sosreport' Local Privilege Escalation
Dec 1, 2015 · Exploit-DB
Source activity
Readings a source repeats on a schedule, counted rather than listed.
- 2×Github ReposApr 13, 2021 – Aug 27, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
- 1×CVE modified by NIST: CISA KEV details updated.Aug 27, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
- 1×Tweets · 3 times tweeted.Aug 27, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
- 1×CVE appeared in the Cve Trends.Aug 27, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
- 1×SVRS is calculatedAug 27, 2026 · SOCRadar CTI
References
19 on the record
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/154592/ABRT-sosreport-Privilege-Escalation.html
Third Party Advisory, NIST, GITHUB, MITRE_REFERENCES
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2505.html
Vendor Advisory, Mitre, NIST
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/12/01/1
Exploit, Mitre, NIST
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
Third Party Advisory, NIST, GITHUB, MITRE_REFERENCES
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/78137
Third Party Advisory, Mitre, NIST
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1266837
Exploit, NIST, MITRE_REFERENCES
- github.com/abrt/abrt/commit/3c1b60cfa62d39e5fff5a53a5bc53dae189e740e
Patch, NIST, MITRE_REFERENCES, Vendor Advisory
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/38832/
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory, Vendor Advisory, Mitre, NIST, GITHUB
Coverage
5 stories from the feeds we poll
Linux flaws drive CISA’s latest exploited bug list - Cybernews
cybernews.com · Aug 28, 2026
U.S. CISA adds Red Hat, Linux Kernel, Ajax.NET Professional, Microsoft SQL Server, and Citrix NetScaler flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
securityaffairs.com · Aug 28, 2026
CVE-2015-5287
vuldb.com · Aug 26, 2026
UAT-10147: AI-assisted attacks with SPECTRE and Linux Rootkit - SecNews.gr
secnews.gr · Aug 24, 2026
UAT-10147: Chinese-speaking adversary integrates agentic AI into post-compromise operations
blog.talosintelligence.com · Aug 20, 2026
Elsewhere on this site
- Red Hatevery CVE for this vendor
- August 2026what else CISA listed
- Path Traversalsame class
- CWE-59other pages naming this weakness
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- Only the 5 indicator(s) reported for this CVE are available; no packet-level or host-forensic artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record1
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2015-5287 is Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool Privilege Escalation Vulnerability, a high vulnerability affecting Automatic Bug Reporting Tool from Red Hat. The current evidence lists it in CISA KEV, and the exploit status is: Yes: CISA KEV signal present. Public exploit evidence is: 10 public PoC repositories reported; 1 marked weaponized in current dataset. The affected-version evidence is listed in the key facts and affected products tables. Defenders should first verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run those versions, then apply vendor patches or mitigations, restrict reachable attack surface, and preserve logs for detection review. CVSS 7.8 describes technical severity, while EPSS 5% helps estimate near-term exploit likelihood; neither replaces asset context. Unknown fields should remain explicit in tickets, and threat actor, IOC, victimology, or payload claims should not be added unless a cited source supports them. Monitor CISA KEV, vendor advisories, NVD changes, public PoC repositories, and internal telemetry for update triggers.