USN-4538-1: PackageKit vulnerabilities

Publication date

24 September 2020

Overview

Several security issues were fixed in PackageKit.


Packages

  • packagekit - Provides a package management service

Details

Vaisha Bernard discovered that PackageKit incorrectly handled certain
methods. A local attacker could use this issue to learn the MIME type of
any file on the system. (CVE-2020-16121)

Sami Niemimäki discovered that PackageKit incorrectly handled local deb
packages. A local user could possibly use this issue to install untrusted
packages, contrary to expectations. (CVE-2020-16122)

Vaisha Bernard discovered that PackageKit incorrectly handled certain
methods. A local attacker could use this issue to learn the MIME type of
any file on the system. (CVE-2020-16121)

Sami Niemimäki discovered that PackageKit incorrectly handled local deb
packages. A local user could possibly use this issue to install untrusted
packages, contrary to expectations. (CVE-2020-16122)

Update instructions

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
20.04 focal packagekit –  1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1
18.04 bionic packagekit –  1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6
16.04 xenial packagekit –  0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.


Have additional questions?

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