---
title: "CVE-2020-14367\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-14367?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2020-14367

Publication date 24 August 2020

Last updated 18 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**6.0 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-14367?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

A flaw was found in chrony versions before 3.5.1 when creating the PID file
under the /var/run/chrony folder. The file is created during chronyd
startup while still running as the root user, and when it's opened for
writing, chronyd does not check for an existing symbolic link with the same
file name. This flaw allows an attacker with privileged access to create a
symlink with the default PID file name pointing to any destination file in
the system, resulting in data loss and a denial of service due to the path
traversal.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| chrony | 26.04 LTS resolute | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 25.10 questing | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 25.04 plucky | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 24.10 oracular | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 23.10 mantic | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 23.04 lunar | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 22.10 kinetic | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 21.10 impish | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 21.04 hirsute | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 3.5.1-1ubuntu1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 3.5-6ubuntu6.2 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 3.2-4ubuntu4.5 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Vulnerable |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Vulnerable |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-14367?format=md#patch-details)

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| chrony | * Upstream:   [util.c?](https://git.tuxfamily.org/chrony/chrony.git/commit/util.c?id=7a4c396bba8f92a3ee8018620983529152050c74) * Upstream:   [main.c?](https://git.tuxfamily.org/chrony/chrony.git/commit/main.c?id=e18903a6b56341481a2e08469c0602010bf7bfe3) * Upstream:   <https://git.tuxfamily.org/chrony/chrony.git/patch/?id=f00fed20092b6a42283f29c6ee1f58244d74b545> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

6.0 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | High |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | None |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 6.0 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-14367)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-14367)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2020-14367)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-14367)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-4475-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-4475-1)
+ Chrony vulnerability
+ 27 August 2020

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-14367>
