CVE-2020-8831

apport: Apport creates a world writable lock file with root ownership in the world writable /var/lock/apport directory

CVE-2020-8831 is fixed in 11 products on 1 platform, first by apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, released April 1, 2020. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

High
CVSS
n/a
High
Exploitation
None reported
No vendor assessment
CISA KEV
Not listed
Not in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
EPSS
0.0065
51st percentile

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.

Where it's fixed

ProductFixed inFixReleased
Linux
apport · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
apport · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 apport 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
apport-gtk · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 apport-gtk 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
apport-gtk · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 apport-gtk 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
apport-kde · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 apport-kde 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
apport-kde · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 apport-kde 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
apport-noui · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 apport-noui 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
apport-noui · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 apport-noui 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
apport-retrace · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 apport-retrace 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
apport-retrace · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 apport-retrace 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
apport-valgrind · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 apport-valgrind 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
apport-valgrind · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 apport-valgrind 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
dh-apport · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 dh-apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
dh-apport · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 dh-apport 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
python-apport · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 python-apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
python-problem-report · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 python-problem-report 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
python3-apport · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 python3-apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
python3-apport · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 python3-apport 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020
python3-problem-report · Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 python3-problem-report 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 Apr 1, 2020
python3-problem-report · Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 python3-problem-report 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 Apr 1, 2020

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