CVE-2020-8831 MEDIUM

CVE-2020-8831: World writable root owned lock file created in user controllable location

Vendor Canonical
Product Apport
Weakness CWE-379
Published April 22, 2020
Last update September 16, 2024

CVSS base score

6.5/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

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.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

April 22, 2020 CVE published
September 16, 2024 Record updated