Medium severity6.5NVD Advisory· Published Apr 22, 2020· Updated Jun 17, 2026
CVE-2020-8831
CVE-2020-8831
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.
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Affected products
7- cpe:2.3:a:apport_project:apport:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*+ 3 more
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:19.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- Range: 2.20.1
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
3- launchpad.net/bugs/1862348nvdExploitThird Party Advisory
- usn.ubuntu.com/4315-1/nvdThird Party Advisory
- usn.ubuntu.com/4315-2/nvdThird Party Advisory
News mentions
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