CVE-2019-15790

What it is

Apport reads and writes information on a crashed process to /proc/pid with elevated privileges. Apport then determines which user the crashed process belongs to by reading /proc/pid through get_pid_info() in data/apport. An unprivileged user could exploit this to read information about a privileged running process by exploiting PID recycling. This information could then be used to obtain ASLR offsets for a process with an existing memory corruption vulnerability. The initial fix introduced regressions in the Python Apport library due to a missing argument in Report.add_proc_environ in apport/report.py. It also caused an autopkgtest failure when reading /proc/pid and with Python 2 compatibility by reading /proc maps. The initial and subsequent regression fixes are in 2.20.11-0ubuntu16, 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.6, 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.12, 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.22 and 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.29+esm3.

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

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2020-04-28 00:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 02:21 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: 2.8 LOW (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2020-04-28 00:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 02:21 UTC

Exploit probability

0.5% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-250 · Unnecessary privileges

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Apport Project Apport
• 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

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 2.8

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

High

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-2019-15790.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2019-15790. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

Copy as ticket · More options · Status badge