CVE-2020-8833
Apport race condition in crash report permissions
CVE-2020-8833 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.6) in Apport Project Apport, published April 2, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.34%, the 27th percentile. Fixed in apport 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm4.
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport allows for a possible privilege escalation opportunity. If fs.protected_symlinks is disabled, this can be exploited between the os.open and os.chown calls when the Apport cron script clears out crash files of size 0. A symlink with the same name as the deleted file can then be created upon which chown will be called, changing the file owner to root. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
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
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
5.6
Apport race condition in crash report permissions
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport allows for a possible privilege escalation opportunity. If fs.protected_symlinks is disabled, this can be exploited between the os.open and os.chown calls when the Apport cron script clears out crash files of size 0. A symlink with the same name as the deleted file can then be created upon which chown will be called, changing the file owner to root. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
- Record
CVE-2020-8833- CVSS 3.1
- 5.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-29676
5.6
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport allows for a possible privilege escalation opportunity. If fs.protected_symlinks is disabled, this can be exploited between the os.open and os.chown calls when the Apport cron script clears out crash files of size 0. A symlink with the same name as the deleted file can then be created upon which chown will be called, changing the file owner to root. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
- Record
EUVD-2020-29676- CVSS 3.1
- 5.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-w9g5-3qgc-xmgx
4.7
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport...
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport allows for a possible privilege escalation opportunity. If fs.protected_symlinks is disabled, this can be exploited between the os.open and os.chown calls when the Apport cron script clears out crash files of size 0. A symlink with the same name as the deleted file can then be created upon which chown will be called, changing the file owner to root. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
- Record
GHSA-w9g5-3qgc-xmgx- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
5.6
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport allows for a possible privilege escalation opportunity. If fs.protected_symlinks is disabled, this can be exploited between the os.open and os.chown calls when the Apport cron script clears out crash files of size 0. A symlink with the same name as the deleted file can then be created upon which chown will be called, changing the file owner to root. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
- Record
CVE-2020-8833- CVSS 3.1
- 5.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 1.9 Low
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-367
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-8833
4.7
Time-of-check Time-of-use Race Condition vulnerability on crash report ownership change in Apport allows for a possible privilege escalation opportunity. If fs.protected_symlinks is disabled, this can be exploited between the os.open and os.chown calls when the Apport cron script clears out crash files of size 0. A symlink with the same name as the deleted file can then be created upon which chown will be called, changing the file owner to root. Fixed in versions 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.8 and 2.20.11-0ubuntu22.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-8833- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N - CVSS 3.1
- 5.6 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4315-1 No score
apport vulnerabilities
Maximilien Bourgeteau discovered that the Apport lock file was created with insecure permissions. This could allow a local attacker to escalate their privileges via a symlink attack. (CVE-2020-8831)
Maximilien Bourgeteau discovered a race condition in Apport when setting crash report permissions. This could allow a local attacker to read arbitrary files via a symlink attack. (CVE-2020-8833)
- Record
USN-4315-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4315-2 No score
apport vulnerabilities
USN-4315-1 fixed several vulnerabilities in Apport. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 14.04 ESM.
Original advisory details:
Maximilien Bourgeteau discovered that the Apport lock file was created with insecure permissions. This could allow a local attacker to escalate their privileges via a symlink attack. (CVE-2020-8831)
Maximilien Bourgeteau discovered a race condition in Apport when setting crash report permissions. This could allow a local attacker to read arbitrary files via a symlink attack. (CVE-2020-8833)
- Record
USN-4315-2- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
apportUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
before 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm4, plus listed versions 2.12.5-0ubuntu22.12.6-0ubuntu12.12.7-0ubuntu12.12.7-0ubuntu22.12.7-0ubuntu3 Show 40 moreShow less2.12.7-0ubuntu62.13.1-0ubuntu12.13.1-0ubuntu22.13.2-0ubuntu22.13.2-0ubuntu32.13.2-0ubuntu42.13.2-0ubuntu52.13.3-0ubuntu12.14-0ubuntu12.14.1-0ubuntu12.14.1-0ubuntu22.14.1-0ubuntu32.14.1-0ubuntu3.12.14.1-0ubuntu3.22.14.1-0ubuntu3.32.14.1-0ubuntu3.42.14.1-0ubuntu3.52.14.1-0ubuntu3.62.14.1-0ubuntu3.72.14.1-0ubuntu3.82.14.1-0ubuntu3.92.14.1-0ubuntu3.102.14.1-0ubuntu3.112.14.1-0ubuntu3.122.14.1-0ubuntu3.132.14.1-0ubuntu3.152.14.1-0ubuntu3.162.14.1-0ubuntu3.182.14.1-0ubuntu3.192.14.1-0ubuntu3.202.14.1-0ubuntu3.212.14.1-0ubuntu3.232.14.1-0ubuntu3.242.14.1-0ubuntu3.252.14.1-0ubuntu3.272.14.1-0ubuntu3.282.14.1-0ubuntu3.292.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm12.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm22.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3 |
2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm4 |
apportUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23, plus listed versions 2.19.1-0ubuntu32.19.2-0ubuntu12.19.2-0ubuntu22.19.2-0ubuntu32.19.2-0ubuntu4 Show 31 moreShow less2.19.2-0ubuntu52.19.2-0ubuntu62.19.2-0ubuntu82.19.2-0ubuntu92.19.3-0ubuntu12.19.3-0ubuntu22.19.3-0ubuntu32.19.4-0ubuntu12.19.4-0ubuntu22.20-0ubuntu22.20-0ubuntu32.20.1-0ubuntu12.20.1-0ubuntu22.20.1-0ubuntu2.12.20.1-0ubuntu2.22.20.1-0ubuntu2.42.20.1-0ubuntu2.52.20.1-0ubuntu2.62.20.1-0ubuntu2.92.20.1-0ubuntu2.102.20.1-0ubuntu2.122.20.1-0ubuntu2.132.20.1-0ubuntu2.142.20.1-0ubuntu2.152.20.1-0ubuntu2.162.20.1-0ubuntu2.172.20.1-0ubuntu2.182.20.1-0ubuntu2.192.20.1-0ubuntu2.202.20.1-0ubuntu2.212.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 |
2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23 |
apportUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
before 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14, plus listed versions 2.20.7-0ubuntu32.20.7-0ubuntu3.12.20.7-0ubuntu42.20.8-0ubuntu12.20.8-0ubuntu2 Show 26 moreShow less2.20.8-0ubuntu32.20.8-0ubuntu42.20.8-0ubuntu52.20.8-0ubuntu62.20.8-0ubuntu72.20.8-0ubuntu82.20.8-0ubuntu92.20.8-0ubuntu102.20.9-0ubuntu12.20.9-0ubuntu22.20.9-0ubuntu42.20.9-0ubuntu52.20.9-0ubuntu62.20.9-0ubuntu72.20.9-0ubuntu7.12.20.9-0ubuntu7.22.20.9-0ubuntu7.32.20.9-0ubuntu7.42.20.9-0ubuntu7.52.20.9-0ubuntu7.62.20.9-0ubuntu7.72.20.9-0ubuntu7.82.20.9-0ubuntu7.92.20.9-0ubuntu7.112.20.9-0ubuntu7.122.20.9-0ubuntu7.13 |
2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14 |
apportUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
before 2.20.11-0ubuntu22, plus listed versions 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.20.11-0ubuntu92.20.11-0ubuntu132.20.11-0ubuntu142.20.11-0ubuntu15 Show 6 moreShow less2.20.11-0ubuntu162.20.11-0ubuntu172.20.11-0ubuntu182.20.11-0ubuntu192.20.11-0ubuntu202.20.11-0ubuntu21 |
2.20.11-0ubuntu22 |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | aliases | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |