CVE-2020-16123: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-h38w-g4mp-rwv7
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CWE-362
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-16123 is a MODERATE security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2020-16123 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-16123
GHSA Identifier GHSA-h38w-g4mp-rwv7
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2020-16123

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2020-16123, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition'), where the product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

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.

References

NVD — CVE-2020-16123 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16123
launchpad.net/bugs/1895928 WEB
https://launchpad.net/bugs/1895928
ubuntu.com/usn-4640-1 WEB
https://ubuntu.com/USN-4640-1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-16123?
CVE-2020-16123 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition').
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2020-16123?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-16123?
CVE-2020-16123 is classified under CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition') (The product contains a concurrent code sequence that requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence operating concurrently.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2020-16123?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-h38w-g4mp-rwv7",
  "modified" : "2022-05-24T17:35:22Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:35:22Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-16123" ],
  "details" : "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.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16123"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://launchpad.net/bugs/1895928"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://ubuntu.com/USN-4640-1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-362" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-12-04T00:15:00Z"
  }
}