# CVE-2016-9949: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary Python code via the CrashDB field in Apport, requiring an upgrade to secure the system.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Dec 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5hh7-vqxx-v3cj, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-9949

## What is CVE-2016-9949?

CVE-2016-9949 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 Dec 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9949?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apport Project Apport, Canonical Ubuntu Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9949?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-9949 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9949 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Apport 2.x (Ubuntu Desktop 12.10 < 16.04) - Local Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2022-28657](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-28657/): Denial of service in Apport (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-6552](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6552/): Apport treats the container PID as the global PID when /proc/<global_pid>/ is missing (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2017-14177](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14177/): Privilege escalation in Apport (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2017-14179](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14179/): Privilege escalation in Apport (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2017-14180](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14180/): Privilege escalation in Apport (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-9949 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9949 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 Dec 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9949 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9949/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9949/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9949
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9949
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9949

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9949/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.