Description
Apport creates a world writable lock file with root ownership in the world writable /var/lock/apport directory. If the apport/ directory does not exist (this is not uncommon as /var/lock is a tmpfs), it will create the directory, otherwise it will simply continue execution using the existing directory. This allows for a symlink attack if an attacker were to create a symlink at /var/lock/apport, changing apport's lock file location. This file could then be used to escalate privileges, for example. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
References (3)
Core 3
Core References
Exploit, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://launchpad.net/bugs/1862348
Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4315-1/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory
x_refsource_ubuntu
https://usn.ubuntu.com/4315-2/
Scores
CVSS v3
6.5
EPSS
0.0012
EPSS Percentile
29.9%
Attack Vector
LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Details
CWE
CWE-379
CWE-59
Status
published
Products (5)
apport_project/apport
canonical/ubuntu_linux
14.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux
16.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux
18.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux
19.10
Published
Apr 22, 2020
Tracked Since
Feb 18, 2026