# 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. - Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-8831 - Priority: High - CVSS: n/a (High) - EPSS: 0.0065 - CISA KEV: not listed - Exploited (vendor report): no - Publicly disclosed: no - Published: Apr 1, 2020 ## 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. ## Where it's fixed | Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released | |---|---|---|---|---| | Linux | apport Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-apport-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [apport 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-apport-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-gtk Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [apport-gtk 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-apport-gtk-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-gtk Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [apport-gtk 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-apport-gtk-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-kde Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [apport-kde 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-apport-kde-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-kde Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [apport-kde 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-apport-kde-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-noui Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [apport-noui 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-apport-noui-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-noui Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [apport-noui 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-apport-noui-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-retrace Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [apport-retrace 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-apport-retrace-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-retrace Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [apport-retrace 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-apport-retrace-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-valgrind Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [apport-valgrind 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-apport-valgrind-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | apport-valgrind Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [apport-valgrind 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-apport-valgrind-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | dh-apport Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [dh-apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-dh-apport-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | dh-apport Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [dh-apport 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-dh-apport-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | python-apport Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [python-apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-python-apport-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | python-problem-report Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [python-problem-report 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-python-problem-report-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | python3-apport Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [python3-apport 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-python3-apport-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | python3-apport Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [python3-apport 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-python3-apport-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | python3-problem-report Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (bionic) | 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 | [python3-problem-report 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-bionic-python3-problem-report-2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | | Linux | python3-problem-report Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) | 2.20.11-0ubuntu22 | [python3-problem-report 2.20.11-0ubuntu22](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/ubuntu-focal-python3-problem-report-2.20.11-0ubuntu22.md) | Apr 1, 2020 | --- Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. 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