CVE-2020-16123

Bypass of snapd pulseaudio restrictions

MEDIUM

4.7

CVSS Score

Published: December 3, 2020 at 11:15 PM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:57 AM UTC

2 products affected across 2 vendorsUbuntu LinuxPulseaudio

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Severity

MEDIUM4.7

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.3%

Description

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 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.

Affected

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

Ubuntu Linux · Canonicalrubygems

95%

16.04 18.04 20.04 20.10

Pulseaudio · Pulseaudio

60%

1:11.1-1 ≤ v < 1:11.1-1ubuntu7.111:13.99.1-1 ≤ v < 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.81:13.99.2-1 ≤ v < 1:13.99.2-1ubuntu2.11:13.99.3-1 ≤ v < 1:13.99.3-1ubuntu21:8.0-0 ≤ v < 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.151:11.1-1 1:13.99.1-1 1:13.99.2-1 1:13.99.3-1 1:8.0-0

Affected range stops below 1:11.1-1ubuntu7.11, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.8, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 1:13.99.2-1ubuntu2.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 1:13.99.3-1ubuntu2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.15, 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)

Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://launchpad.net/bugs/1895928

Vendor Advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUPatchThird Party Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://ubuntu.com/USN-4640-1

CVSS

4.7MEDIUM[email protected]

Attack Vector: LOCAL
Complexity: HIGH
Privileges: LOW
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality: HIGH
Integrity: NONE
Availability: NONE

Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED

CWE

CWE-362

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