CVE-2020-15703: aptdaemon_project aptdaemon Path Traversal

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2020-15703 is a medium (CVSS 4.0) Path Traversal vulnerability in aptdaemon_project aptdaemon. EPSS estimates a 0.49% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 40.8% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 31-10-2020
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 16-09-2024
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

There is no input validation on the Locale property in an apt transaction. An unprivileged user can supply a full path to a writable directory, which lets aptd read a file as root. Having a symlink in place results in an error message if the file exists, and no error otherwise. This way an unprivileged user can check for the existence of any files on the system as root.

• CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.