CVE-2020-11934

Sandbox escape vulnerability via snapctl user-open (xdg-open)

MEDIUM
5.9
CVSS Score
Published: July 29, 2020 at 04:25 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:51 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsUbuntu LinuxSnapd

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Severity
MEDIUM5.9
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.4%

Description

It was discovered that snapctl user-open allowed altering the $XDG_DATA_DIRS environment variable when calling the system xdg-open. OpenURL() in usersession/userd/launcher.go would alter $XDG_DATA_DIRS to append a path to a directory controlled by the calling snap. A malicious snap could exploit this to bypass intended access restrictions to control how the host system xdg-open script opens the URL and, for example, execute a script shipped with the snap without confinement. This issue did not affect Ubuntu Core systems. Fixed in snapd versions 2.45.1ubuntu0.2, 2.45.1+18.04.2 and 2.45.1+20.04.2.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

2.45.1 ≤ v < 2.45.1ubuntu0.22.45.1
Affected range stops below 2.45.1ubuntu0.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

References (2)

x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
https://launchpad.net/bugs/1880085
x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
https://ubuntu.com/USN-4424-1

CVSS

5.9MEDIUMcanonical
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-668

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