CVE-2019-11481

Root file reads via user-controlled settings symlink

Published Feb 8, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper link resolution in Canonical Apport allows local users to make the root-run crash reporter read arbitrary files through a symlink. The get_config function in apport/fileutils.py passes ~/.config/apport/settings to ConfigParser.read while its effective UID is root, following a user-controlled symlink without first dropping privileges. A local account can trigger the read, but malformed target contents abort Apport, so the direct consequence is bounded to a crash or other unspecified effects.

CVSS severity3.8
Low
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Canonical Apport allows local users to make the root-run crash reporter read arbitrary files through a symlink. The get_config function in apport/fileutils.py passes ~/.config/apport/settings to ConfigParser.read while its effective UID is root, following a user-controlled symlink without first dropping privileges. A local account can trigger the read, but malformed target contents abort Apport, so the direct consequence is bounded to a crash or other unspecified effects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-11481
Published
Feb 8, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Canonical
Product
Apport
Classifications
CWE-59
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 8, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.14.1 <2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2
  2. Affected versionversion=2.20.11 <2.20.11-0ubuntu8.1
  3. Affected versionversion=2.20.1 <2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20
  4. Affected versionversion=2.20.9 <2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Canonical · Apportversion=2.14.1 <2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2; version=2.20.11 <2.20.11-0ubuntu8.1; version=2.20.1 <2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20; version=2.20.9 <2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8

Published CVSS scores

6.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:P/A:P
3.8CanonicalCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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