CVE-2020-15702: Canonical Ubuntu apport Time-Of-Check Time-Of-Use Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Aug 6, 2020
·
Updated

Last updated 25 August 2025

Other sources

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Canonical Ubuntu. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the apport package. The issue results from the lack of proper locking when performing operations on a file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of root.

ZDI

TOCTOU Race Condition vulnerability in apport allows a local attacker to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code. An attacker may exit the crashed process and exploit PID recycling to spawn a root process with the same PID as the crashed process, which can then be used to escalate privileges. Fixed in 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.24, 2.20.9 versions prior to 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.16 and 2.20.11 versions prior to 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.6. Was ZDI-CAN-11234.

Launchpad

Affected Software

208 affected components
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu8
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu9
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu10
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu11
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu12
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu13
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu14
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu15
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu16
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu17
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu18
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu19
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu20
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu21
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu22
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu23
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu24
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu25
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu26
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.2
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.3
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.4
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.5
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=20.04
Canonical apport=2.20.7-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.7-0ubuntu3.1
Canonical apport=2.20.7-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu5
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu6
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu7
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu8
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu9
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu10
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu5
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu6
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.1
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.3
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.5
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.6
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.7
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.9
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.10
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.11
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.13
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.15
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
Canonical apport=2.19.1-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu5
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu6
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu7
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu8
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu9
Canonical apport=2.19.3-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.19.3-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.19.3-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.19.4-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.19.4-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.2
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.4
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.6
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.7
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.8
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.9
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.10
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.12
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.16
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.17
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.18
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.19
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.21
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu
All of the following
Any of the following
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu8
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu9
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu10
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu11
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu12
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu13
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu14
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu15
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu16
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu17
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu18
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu19
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu20
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu21
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu22
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu23
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu24
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu25
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu26
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.2
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.3
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.4
Canonical apport=2.20.11-0ubuntu27.5
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=20.04
All of the following
Any of the following
Canonical apport=2.20.7-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.7-0ubuntu3.1
Canonical apport=2.20.7-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu5
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu6
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu7
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu8
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu9
Canonical apport=2.20.8-0ubuntu10
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu5
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu6
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.1
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.3
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.4
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.5
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.6
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.7
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.8
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.9
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.10
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.11
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.13
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.14
Canonical apport=2.20.9-0ubuntu7.15
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
All of the following
Any of the following
Canonical apport=2.19.1-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu4
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu5
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu6
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu7
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu8
Canonical apport=2.19.2-0ubuntu9
Canonical apport=2.19.3-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.19.3-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.19.3-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.19.4-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.19.4-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20-0ubuntu3
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu1
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.2
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.4
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.6
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.7
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.8
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.9
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.10
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.12
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.13
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.14
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.15
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.16
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.17
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.18
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.19
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.20
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.21
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22
Canonical apport=2.20.1-0ubuntu2.23
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04

Event History

Aug 6, 2020
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:50 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:50 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jan 11, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·11:43 PM
Description
Jan 15, 2024
Data Sourced
via Debian·11:44 PM
DescriptionAffected Software
Feb 26, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·07:41 PM
Nov 3, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·07:38 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2020-15702?

CVE-2020-15702 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability that allows local attackers to escalate privileges.

2

How do I fix CVE-2020-15702?

To fix CVE-2020-15702, ensure your Canonical Apport package is updated to the latest version available for your Ubuntu installation.

3

Which Ubuntu versions are affected by CVE-2020-15702?

CVE-2020-15702 affects specific versions of Canonical Apport, particularly those before 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.5.

4

What types of exploits can be executed using CVE-2020-15702?

Exploiting CVE-2020-15702 can allow an attacker to run commands with elevated privileges on the affected system.

5

Who is the vendor for the software affected by CVE-2020-15702?

The affected software for CVE-2020-15702 is from Canonical, specifically the Ubuntu operating system's Apport package.

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