CVE-2019-11481

What it is

Kevin Backhouse discovered that apport would read a user-supplied configuration file with elevated privileges. By replacing the file with a symbolic link, a user could get apport to read any file on the system as root, with unknown consequences.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

0.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2020-02-08 05:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 02:12 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.5% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 3.8 LOW (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2020-02-08 05:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 02:12 UTC

Exploit probability

0.5% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-59

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 14.04
• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 16.04
• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 18.04
• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 19.04
• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 19.10
• Apport Project Apport

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 3.8

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Changed

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2019-11481.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2019-11481. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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