CVE-2020-11931: An Ubuntu-specific modification to Pulseaudio to provide security mediation for Snap-packaged applications was

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-11931?

pulseaudio: upgrade to newer than 1.8.0; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-11931 being exploited?

CVE-2020-11931 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-2020-11931 affect?

CVE-2020-11931 affects pulseaudio, ubuntu linux. Severity is low (CVSS 3.3). An Ubuntu-specific modification to Pulseaudio to provide security mediation for Snap-packaged applications was found to have a bypass of intended access restriction for snaps which plugs any of pulseaudio, audio-playback or audio-record via

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-11931?

Priority 23/100. On your watchlist

Routine

LOW 3.3WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-11931 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 3.3) affecting pulseaudio, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An Ubuntu-specific modification to Pulseaudio to provide security mediation for Snap-packaged applications was found to have a bypass of intended access restriction for snaps which plugs any of pulseaudio, audio-playback or audio-record via unloading the pulseaudio snap policy module. This issue affects: pulseaudio 1:8.0 versions prior to 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.12; 1:11.1 versions prior to 1:11.1-1ubuntu7.7; 1:13.0 versions prior to 1:13.0-1ubuntu1.2; 1:

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	3.3 (Low)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 74%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-284, CWE-668
Published	2020-05-15
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Canonical Ltd. · Vendor: canonical · pulseaudio

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-05-15 04:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:51 UTCUpdated Record last modified

pulseaudio pulseaudio UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.8.0

Fixed in: newer than 1.8.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade pulseaudio

Note

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

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 16.04 · 18.04 · 19.10 · 20.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.04

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.

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-2020-11931?

pulseaudio: upgrade to newer than 1.8.0; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-11931 being exploited?

CVE-2020-11931 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-2020-11931 affect?

CVE-2020-11931 affects pulseaudio, ubuntu linux. Severity is low (CVSS 3.3). An Ubuntu-specific modification to Pulseaudio to provide security mediation for Snap-packaged applications was found to have a bypass of intended access restriction for snaps which plugs any of pulseaudio, audio-playback or audio-record via

How urgent is CVE-2020-11931?

Priority 23/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2024-11586 MEDIUM 4.0 MITIGATE Ubuntu's implementation of pulseaudio can be crashed by a malicious program if a bluetooth headset is connecte
CVE-2020-15710 MEDIUM 5.3 MITIGATE Potential double free in Bluez 5 module of PulseAudio could allow a local attacker to leak memory or crash the

References

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