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CVE-2019-15790

Apport reads PID files with elevated privileges

2.8 LowFix available

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.52%Down 1.2 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 2.8

Apport reads PID files with elevated privileges

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

Record
CVE-2019-15790
CVSS 3.1
2.8 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-250
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2019-6713 2.8

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

Record
EUVD-2019-6713
CVSS 3.1
2.8 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mv59-w8cf-g9q7 3.3

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges....

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

Record
GHSA-mv59-w8cf-g9q7
CVSS 3.1
3.3 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-250, CWE-269
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 2.8

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

Record
CVE-2019-15790
CVSS 3.1
2.8 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
CVSS 3.1
3.3 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CVSS 2.0
2.1 LowAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-250, CWE-269
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2019-15790 3.3

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-15790
CVSS 3.1
3.3 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CVSS 3.1
2.8 LowCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4171-1 No score

apport vulnerabilities

Kevin Backhouse discovered Apport would read its user-controlled settings file as the root user. This could be used by a local attacker to possibly crash Apport or have other unspecified consequences. (CVE-2019-11481)

Sander Bos discovered a race-condition in Apport during core dump creation. This could be used by a local attacker to generate a crash report for a privileged process that is readable by an unprivileged user. (CVE-2019-11482)

Sander Bos discovered Apport mishandled crash dumps originating from containers. This could be used by a local attacker to generate a crash report for a privileged process that is readable by an unprivileged user. (CVE-2019-11483)

Sander Bos discovered Apport mishandled lock-file creation. This could be used by a local attacker to cause a denial of service against Apport. (CVE-2019-11485)

Kevin Backhouse discovered Apport read various process-specific files with elevated privileges during crash dump generation. This could could be used by a local attacker to generate a crash report for a privileged process that is readable by an unprivileged user. (CVE-2019-15790)

Record
USN-4171-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4171-2 No score

apport vulnerabilities

USN-4171-1 fixed several vulnerabilities in apport. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 14.04 ESM.

Original advisory details:

Kevin Backhouse discovered Apport would read its user-controlled settings file as the root user. This could be used by a local attacker to possibly crash Apport or have other unspecified consequences. (CVE-2019-11481)

Sander Bos discovered a race-condition in Apport during core dump creation. This could be used by a local attacker to generate a crash report for a privileged process that is readable by an unprivileged user. (CVE-2019-11482)

Sander Bos discovered Apport mishandled crash dumps originating from containers. This could be used by a local attacker to generate a crash report for a privileged process that is readable by an unprivileged user. (CVE-2019-11483)

Sander Bos discovered Apport mishandled lock-file creation. This could be used by a local attacker to cause a denial of service against Apport. (CVE-2019-11485)

Kevin Backhouse discovered Apport read various process-specific files with elevated privileges during crash dump generation. This could could be used by a local attacker to generate a crash report for a privileged process that is readable by an unprivileged user. (CVE-2019-15790)

Record
USN-4171-2
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
apport
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
before 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2, plus listed versions
2.12.5-0ubuntu22.12.6-0ubuntu12.12.7-0ubuntu12.12.7-0ubuntu22.12.7-0ubuntu3
Show 38 moreShow less
2.12.7-0ubuntu62.13.1-0ubuntu12.13.1-0ubuntu22.13.2-0ubuntu22.13.2-0ubuntu32.13.2-0ubuntu42.13.2-0ubuntu52.13.3-0ubuntu12.14-0ubuntu12.14.1-0ubuntu12.14.1-0ubuntu22.14.1-0ubuntu32.14.1-0ubuntu3.12.14.1-0ubuntu3.22.14.1-0ubuntu3.32.14.1-0ubuntu3.42.14.1-0ubuntu3.52.14.1-0ubuntu3.62.14.1-0ubuntu3.72.14.1-0ubuntu3.82.14.1-0ubuntu3.92.14.1-0ubuntu3.102.14.1-0ubuntu3.112.14.1-0ubuntu3.122.14.1-0ubuntu3.132.14.1-0ubuntu3.152.14.1-0ubuntu3.162.14.1-0ubuntu3.182.14.1-0ubuntu3.192.14.1-0ubuntu3.202.14.1-0ubuntu3.212.14.1-0ubuntu3.232.14.1-0ubuntu3.242.14.1-0ubuntu3.252.14.1-0ubuntu3.272.14.1-0ubuntu3.282.14.1-0ubuntu3.292.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm1
2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2
apport
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20, plus listed versions
2.19.1-0ubuntu32.19.2-0ubuntu12.19.2-0ubuntu22.19.2-0ubuntu32.19.2-0ubuntu4
Show 28 moreShow less
2.19.2-0ubuntu52.19.2-0ubuntu62.19.2-0ubuntu82.19.2-0ubuntu92.19.3-0ubuntu12.19.3-0ubuntu22.19.3-0ubuntu32.19.4-0ubuntu12.19.4-0ubuntu22.20-0ubuntu22.20-0ubuntu32.20.1-0ubuntu12.20.1-0ubuntu22.20.1-0ubuntu2.12.20.1-0ubuntu2.22.20.1-0ubuntu2.42.20.1-0ubuntu2.52.20.1-0ubuntu2.62.20.1-0ubuntu2.92.20.1-0ubuntu2.102.20.1-0ubuntu2.122.20.1-0ubuntu2.132.20.1-0ubuntu2.142.20.1-0ubuntu2.152.20.1-0ubuntu2.162.20.1-0ubuntu2.172.20.1-0ubuntu2.182.20.1-0ubuntu2.19
2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20
apport
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8, plus listed versions
2.20.7-0ubuntu32.20.7-0ubuntu3.12.20.7-0ubuntu42.20.8-0ubuntu12.20.8-0ubuntu2
Show 21 moreShow less
2.20.8-0ubuntu32.20.8-0ubuntu42.20.8-0ubuntu52.20.8-0ubuntu62.20.8-0ubuntu72.20.8-0ubuntu82.20.8-0ubuntu92.20.8-0ubuntu102.20.9-0ubuntu12.20.9-0ubuntu22.20.9-0ubuntu42.20.9-0ubuntu52.20.9-0ubuntu62.20.9-0ubuntu72.20.9-0ubuntu7.12.20.9-0ubuntu7.22.20.9-0ubuntu7.32.20.9-0ubuntu7.42.20.9-0ubuntu7.52.20.9-0ubuntu7.62.20.9-0ubuntu7.7
2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8
apport
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20, plus listed versions
2.19.1-0ubuntu32.19.2-0ubuntu12.19.2-0ubuntu22.19.2-0ubuntu32.19.2-0ubuntu4
Show 28 moreShow less
2.19.2-0ubuntu52.19.2-0ubuntu62.19.2-0ubuntu82.19.2-0ubuntu92.19.3-0ubuntu12.19.3-0ubuntu22.19.3-0ubuntu32.19.4-0ubuntu12.19.4-0ubuntu22.20-0ubuntu22.20-0ubuntu32.20.1-0ubuntu12.20.1-0ubuntu22.20.1-0ubuntu2.12.20.1-0ubuntu2.22.20.1-0ubuntu2.42.20.1-0ubuntu2.52.20.1-0ubuntu2.62.20.1-0ubuntu2.92.20.1-0ubuntu2.102.20.1-0ubuntu2.122.20.1-0ubuntu2.132.20.1-0ubuntu2.142.20.1-0ubuntu2.152.20.1-0ubuntu2.162.20.1-0ubuntu2.172.20.1-0ubuntu2.182.20.1-0ubuntu2.19
2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20
apport
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8, plus listed versions
2.20.7-0ubuntu32.20.7-0ubuntu3.12.20.7-0ubuntu42.20.8-0ubuntu12.20.8-0ubuntu2
Show 21 moreShow less
2.20.8-0ubuntu32.20.8-0ubuntu42.20.8-0ubuntu52.20.8-0ubuntu62.20.8-0ubuntu72.20.8-0ubuntu82.20.8-0ubuntu92.20.8-0ubuntu102.20.9-0ubuntu12.20.9-0ubuntu22.20.9-0ubuntu42.20.9-0ubuntu52.20.9-0ubuntu62.20.9-0ubuntu72.20.9-0ubuntu7.12.20.9-0ubuntu7.22.20.9-0ubuntu7.32.20.9-0ubuntu7.42.20.9-0ubuntu7.52.20.9-0ubuntu7.62.20.9-0ubuntu7.7
2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8
apport
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2, plus listed versions
2.12.5-0ubuntu22.12.6-0ubuntu12.12.7-0ubuntu12.12.7-0ubuntu22.12.7-0ubuntu3
Show 38 moreShow less
2.12.7-0ubuntu62.13.1-0ubuntu12.13.1-0ubuntu22.13.2-0ubuntu22.13.2-0ubuntu32.13.2-0ubuntu42.13.2-0ubuntu52.13.3-0ubuntu12.14-0ubuntu12.14.1-0ubuntu12.14.1-0ubuntu22.14.1-0ubuntu32.14.1-0ubuntu3.12.14.1-0ubuntu3.22.14.1-0ubuntu3.32.14.1-0ubuntu3.42.14.1-0ubuntu3.52.14.1-0ubuntu3.62.14.1-0ubuntu3.72.14.1-0ubuntu3.82.14.1-0ubuntu3.92.14.1-0ubuntu3.102.14.1-0ubuntu3.112.14.1-0ubuntu3.122.14.1-0ubuntu3.132.14.1-0ubuntu3.152.14.1-0ubuntu3.162.14.1-0ubuntu3.182.14.1-0ubuntu3.192.14.1-0ubuntu3.202.14.1-0ubuntu3.212.14.1-0ubuntu3.232.14.1-0ubuntu3.242.14.1-0ubuntu3.252.14.1-0ubuntu3.272.14.1-0ubuntu3.282.14.1-0ubuntu3.292.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm1
2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2019-15790 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 2.8) in Apport Project Apport, published October 29, 2019. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.52%, the 44th percentile. Fixed in apport 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm2.

References

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