Vulnerability Report

CVE-2020-8831

Title: Apport Privilege Escalation via World-Writable Lock File

Other

Proof Of Concept

No public PoC currently indexed for CVE-2020-8831.

CWE Category CWE-59
Published Date Apr 22, 2020
Modified Date Jun 17, 2026
Exploit Status Not Found
Score 6.5 CVSS v3.1
Exploit Probability (EPSS)
0.65%

Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2020-8831: 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.

Impacted Vendors

A
apport 1
A
apport_project 1

Reference Links

https://launchpad.net/bugs/1862348 https://usn.ubuntu.com/4315-1/ https://usn.ubuntu.com/4315-2/ https://launchpad.net/bugs/1862348 https://usn.ubuntu.com/4315-1/ https://usn.ubuntu.com/4315-2/
CVSS v3.1
Source Entity [email protected]
Severity MEDIUM
6.5
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
N/A
Interaction
NONE
Confidentiality
N/A
Integrity
N/A
Availability
N/A
Scope
CHANGED
RAW VECTOR CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
CVSS v3.1
Source Entity [email protected]
Severity MEDIUM
5.5
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
N/A
Interaction
NONE
Confidentiality
N/A
Integrity
N/A
Availability
N/A
Scope
UNCHANGED
RAW VECTOR CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
CVSS v2.0
Source Entity [email protected]
Severity LOW
2.1
Access Vector
N/A
Authentication
N/A
RAW VECTOR AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N

Associated Attack Patterns (CAPEC)

Total: Patterns

CVE-2020-8831 Exploits & PoCs (Proof Of Concept)

No public PoCs found in our database for this CVE.

MODIFIED

Vulnerability data updated via NVD.

MODIFIED

Vulnerability data or affected products updated.

PUBLISHED

Vulnerability first announced in NVD.

Attack Vector Matrix

Access Vector LOCAL
Complexity LOW
Privileges N/A
Interaction NONE
CVSS Vector String CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N

Affected Stack

No specific products linked.