CVE-2015-5287 Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool: privilege escalation

In plain words: Something running with limited rights can promote itself to full control. Turns a small foothold (like a malicious app) into administrator or system-level access.

Confirmed exploited by CISA on Aug 26, 2026 · US federal patch deadline Sep 9, 2026

What to do

Install Red Hat's security update for Automatic Bug Reporting Tool. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.

Who is affected

Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.

The details

Official name: Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Product: Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool
CISA description: 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.
Type of flaw: Privilege escalation
Confirmed exploited: Aug 26, 2026
US federal patch deadline: Sep 9, 2026

NVD record ↗CISA catalog ↗

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Answering about CVE-2015-5287 ·

Questions about CVE-2015-5287

Is CVE-2015-5287 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2015-5287 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Aug 26, 2026, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.

How do I fix CVE-2015-5287?

Install Red Hat's security update for Automatic Bug Reporting Tool. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.

Am I affected by CVE-2015-5287?

Only if you use Red Hat Automatic Bug Reporting Tool. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.