CVE-2020-8831

MEDIUM

Apport - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

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