Cyber Resilience

CVE-2019-7304

Access Control in Canonical Ubuntu Linux 14.04 … 18.10

Public PoCHigh EPSSAccess Control
Published
23 April 2019
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.57 99th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2019-7304 is a critical-severity Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863) vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Canonical snapd before version 2.37.1 incorrectly performed socket owner validation, allowing an attacker to run arbitrary commands as root. This issue affects: Canonical snapd versions prior to 2.37.1.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: HIGH
Incorrect socket owner validation allows local privilege escalation to root, directly enabling exploitation for privilege escalation.
T1059.004 Unix Shell Executionconfidence: MEDIUM
Running arbitrary commands as root via the snapd socket enables Unix shell command execution with elevated privileges.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-2640Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2023-32629Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2023-1523Same product: Canonical Snapd
CVE-2021-3493Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2026-47333Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2026-9640Same vendor: Canonical
CVE-2024-29069Same product: Canonical Snapd
CVE-2023-5536Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2024-1724Same product: Canonical Snapd
CVE-2026-47331Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux

Affected Assets

canonical
snapd
≤ 2.37.1
canonical
ubuntu linux
14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 5 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-863

Periodic review and update of procedures reduces incorrect authorization implementations over time.

addresses: CWE-863

Supervision identifies cases where authorization logic incorrectly permits unauthorized actions.

addresses: CWE-863

Defining permitted attribute values and auditing modifications reduces the chance of incorrect authorization outcomes due to tampered or missing labels.

addresses: CWE-863

The authorization process and usage restrictions help prevent incorrect authorization for remote access types.

addresses: CWE-863

Establishing configuration and connection requirements helps ensure correct rather than incorrect authorization for wireless access.

addresses: CWE-863

Establishing connection authorization processes for mobile devices helps ensure authorization decisions are correctly implemented rather than incorrect.

addresses: CWE-863

Monitoring account use, notifying on changes, and reviewing accounts for compliance corrects incorrect authorization assignments.

addresses: CWE-863

Ensures authorization decisions for external system use are correctly implemented and enforced.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.AA-05 mostly match
prevents

Defining, enforcing, and reviewing access authorizations and least privilege directly prevents incorrect authorization checks.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Requiring consistency between access rights and classification plus formal approval steps ensures that the authorization logic correctly distinguishes between entities that should and should not be granted access.

prevents

Enforcing policy-driven approval and role-change reviews stops incorrect or stale authorization decisions from remaining in effect after job changes or terminations.

prevents

By tying access rights to identity, device, location and classification, the control reduces the likelihood that an authorization decision will be based on an incorrect or bypassed policy.

References