CVE-2020-11867 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Audacity through 2.3.3 saves temporary files to /var/tmp/audacity-$USER by default. After Audacity creates the temporary directory, it sets its permissions to 755. Any user on the system can read and play the temporary audio .au files located there.

Understanding CVE-2020-11867

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Audacity that allows any user on the system to read and play temporary audio files due to incorrect permissions.

What is CVE-2020-11867?

Audacity through version 2.3.3 saves temporary files in a directory with incorrect permissions, potentially exposing sensitive audio files to unauthorized users.

The Impact of CVE-2020-11867

The vulnerability allows any user on the system to access and play temporary audio files, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-11867

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Audacity saves temporary audio files in a directory with insecure permissions, allowing any user to access and play these files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Audacity
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: All versions up to 2.3.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users can exploit this vulnerability by accessing the temporary directory where Audacity saves audio files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from the CVE and preventing unauthorized access.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Audacity to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Restrict access to the temporary directory where Audacity saves files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to ensure the latest security patches are applied.
Implement proper file permissions and access controls to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure Audacity is updated to version 2.4.0 or newer to address the vulnerability.