CVE-2016-9949: An issue was discovered in Apport before 2.20.4

Q: How do I fix CVE-2016-9949?

apport: upgrade to newer than 2.20.3; ubuntu linux: upgrade to newer than 12.10. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2016-9949 being exploited?

CVE-2016-9949 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2016-9949 affect?

CVE-2016-9949 affects apport, ubuntu linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). An issue was discovered in Apport before 2.20.4. In apport/ui.py, Apport reads the CrashDB field and it then evaluates the field as Python code if it begins with a "{". This allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Python code.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2016-9949?

Priority 62/100. High severity; EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This week

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2016-9949 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting apport, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in Apport before 2.20.4. In apport/ui.py, Apport reads the CrashDB field and it then evaluates the field as Python code if it begins with a "{". This allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Python code.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	17.7% (top 3%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-94
Published	2016-12-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: apport project · canonical

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-12-17 03:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:56 UTCUpdated Record last modified

apport project apport UPGRADE

Affected: <= 2.20.3

Fixed in: newer than 2.20.3

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy apport || rpm -q apport || apport --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 2.20.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade apport

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade apport

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

canonical ubuntu linux UPGRADE

Affected: <= 12.10

Fixed in: newer than 12.10

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Apport 2.x (Ubuntu Desktop 12.10 < 16.04) - Local Code Execution

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2016-9949?

apport: upgrade to newer than 2.20.3; ubuntu linux: upgrade to newer than 12.10. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2016-9949 being exploited?

CVE-2016-9949 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2016-9949 affect?

CVE-2016-9949 affects apport, ubuntu linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). An issue was discovered in Apport before 2.20.4. In apport/ui.py, Apport reads the CrashDB field and it then evaluates the field as Python code if it begins with a "{". This allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Python code.

How urgent is CVE-2016-9949?

Priority 62/100. High severity; EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Python vulnerabilities · Ubuntu vulnerabilities

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CVE-2023-1326 HIGH 7.7 UPGRADE MITIGATE A privilege escalation attack was found in apport-cli 2.26.0 and earlier which is similar to CVE-2023-26604
CVE-2022-28653 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Users can consume unlimited disk space in /var/crash
CVE-2022-1242 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE Apport can be tricked into connecting to arbitrary sockets as the root user

References

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