CVE-2020-16123 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2020-16123, a security vulnerability in PulseAudio on Ubuntu systems that could allow attackers to bypass snapd pulseaudio restrictions and expose sensitive information. Find out how to mitigate this issue.
An Ubuntu-specific patch in PulseAudio created a race condition where the snap policy module would fail to identify a client connection from a snap as coming from a snap if SCM_CREDENTIALS were missing, allowing the snap to connect to PulseAudio without proper confinement. This could be exploited by an attacker to expose sensitive information. Fixed in versions 1:13.99.3-1ubuntu2, 1:13.99.2-1ubuntu2.1, 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.8, 1:11.1-1ubuntu7.11, and 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.15.
Understanding CVE-2020-16123
This CVE involves a vulnerability in PulseAudio that could allow an attacker to bypass snapd pulseaudio restrictions on Ubuntu systems.
What is CVE-2020-16123?
CVE-2020-16123 is a security vulnerability in PulseAudio on Ubuntu systems that could enable an attacker to connect to PulseAudio without proper confinement, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive information.
The Impact of CVE-2020-16123
The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to bypass snapd pulseaudio restrictions, potentially resulting in the exposure of sensitive data.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-16123
This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in PulseAudio allows a snap to connect without proper confinement, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive information.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: PulseAudio
- Vendor: Canonical
- Affected Versions:
- 1:13.99.3-1ubuntu2
- 1:13.99.2-1ubuntu2.1
- 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.8
- 1:11.1-1ubuntu7.11
- 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.15
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability arises from a race condition in the snap policy module, allowing a snap to connect to PulseAudio without proper confinement, potentially exposing sensitive data.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protect your systems from CVE-2020-16123 with the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the necessary patches provided by Canonical.
- Monitor for any unusual activity on PulseAudio.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch your systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement proper confinement and access controls on PulseAudio.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that you update PulseAudio to the fixed versions to mitigate the vulnerability.