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TI-2020-07088 Aliases CVE-2020-8831GHSA-33w2-prhc-2q89

World writable root owned lock file created in user controllable location

Priority LOW 30CWE-379Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · High · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

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.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00651 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Apport (Canonical): 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
CanonicalApport2.20.1 to before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23; 2.20.9 to before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14; 2.20.11 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.82.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8Patch availableCNA
  • Apport VendorCanonical Affected 2.20.1 to before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23; 2.20.9 to before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14; 2.20.11 to before 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 Fixed in 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 5

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*14.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*16.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*18.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:19.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*19.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:a:apport_project:apport:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableApport Project
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:19.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 19.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:a:apport_project:apport:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Apport Project

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Apport (Canonical) Fixed in 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Advisory ·

    Canonical Apport — USN-4315-2

    2 records Highest priority Priority LOW 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2020-07090 Apport race condition in crash report permissionsPriority LOW 25
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-8831
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-33w2-prhc-2q89
  3. 2026-10-14 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Exploit 1

Advisory 2

  • TI-2020-09349 An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt before 2019.2.4 and 3000 before 3000.2. KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-05854 smtp_mailaddr in smtp_session.c in OpenSMTPD 6.6, as used in OpenBSD 6.6 and other… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-01431 Netlogon Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2019-12627 Exim 4.92 through 4.92.2 allows remote code execution, a different vulnerability than… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2019-08259 Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2019-07471 OS command injection in exim KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 4120 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences