---
title: "CVE-2022-0563\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-2022-0563?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2022-0563

Publication date 21 February 2022

Last updated 1 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2022-0563?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

A flaw was found in the util-linux chfn and chsh utilities when compiled
with Readline support. The Readline library uses an "INPUTRC" environment
variable to get a path to the library config file. When the library cannot
parse the specified file, it prints an error message containing data from
the file. This flaw allows an unprivileged user to read root-owned files,
potentially leading to privilege escalation. This flaw affects util-linux
versions prior to 2.37.4.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2022-0563?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| util-linux | 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [alexmurray](https://launchpad.net/~alexmurray)

In Ubuntu chfn and chsh are not built from the util-linux source package but instead from the passwd package so are not affected by this vulnerability.

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-0563)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-0563)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2022-0563)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2022-0563)

### Other references

* <https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2053151>
* <https://lore.kernel.org/util-linux/20220214110609.msiwlm457ngoic6w@ws.net.home/T/#u>
* <https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/commit/faa5a3a83ad0cb5e2c303edbfd8cd823c9d94c17>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-0563>