CVE-2020-14367: A flaw was found in chrony versions before 3.5.1 when creating the PID file under the /var/run/chrony folder

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-14367?

chrony: upgrade to 3.5.1; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-14367 being exploited?

CVE-2020-14367 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-2020-14367 affect?

CVE-2020-14367 affects chrony, fedora, ubuntu linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.0). 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 no

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-14367?

Priority 36/100. On your watchlist

Routine

MEDIUM 6.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-14367 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.0) affecting chrony, fedora, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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 syst

Why this priority

On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.0 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	High
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.5% (top 58%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-59
Published	2020-08-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: canonical · fedoraproject · tuxfamily

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-08-24 15:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:54 UTCUpdated Record last modified

tuxfamily chrony UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.5.1

Fixed in: 3.5.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 3.5.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade chrony

Note

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

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 32

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 32

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.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 18.04 · 20.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18.04

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-2020-14367?

chrony: upgrade to 3.5.1; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-14367 being exploited?

CVE-2020-14367 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-2020-14367 affect?

CVE-2020-14367 affects chrony, fedora, ubuntu linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.0). 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 no

How urgent is CVE-2020-14367?

Priority 36/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

References

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