Local bearer-token disclosure via visible apt-helper arguments
Published Jul 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 16, 2026
Information disclosure in Ubuntu Pro Client before 37.3 allows local users to read a Pro bearer token through /proc process data. Credential validation passes a token-bearing HTTPS URL to /usr/lib/apt/apt-helper in argv, making the secret visible in /proc/cmdline while the helper runs. Exploitation requires a low-privileged account and a /proc mount without hidepid; the token grants unauthorized access to Ubuntu Pro or ESM repositories.
Summary
What happened
Information disclosure in Ubuntu Pro Client before 37.3 allows local users to read a Pro bearer token through /proc process data. Credential validation passes a token-bearing HTTPS URL to /usr/lib/apt/apt-helper in argv, making the secret visible in /proc/cmdline while the helper runs. Exploitation requires a low-privileged account and a /proc mount without hidepid; the token grants unauthorized access to Ubuntu Pro or ESM repositories.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-9494
- Published
- Jul 16, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 16, 2026
- Vendor
- Canonical
- Product
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- Classifications
- CWE-214, CAPEC-13, T1552.001
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 16, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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