CVE-2026-9494
published 2026-07-16CVE-2026-9494: An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Canonical ubuntu-pro-client (formerly ubuntu-advantage-tools). The client validates Ubuntu Pro APT…
PriorityP429medium5.5CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSUCHINAN
EPSS
0.11%
1.7th percentile
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Canonical ubuntu-pro-client (formerly ubuntu-advantage-tools). The client validates Ubuntu Pro APT credentials by executing /usr/lib/apt/apt-helper using the download-file command. During this process, the secret bearer token is embedded directly in
the cleartext URL component passed via the command-line arguments (argv), resulting in a URL format such as https://bearer:@esm.ubuntu.com/.../. On systems utilizing a default-mounted /proc file system where process-hiding mitigations (such as hidepid) are disabled, an unprivileged local attacker can
monitor system processes and read the sensitive bearer token directly from /proc/cmdline while the helper process is actively running. This leaked token can subsequently be used to gain unauthorized access to the victim's Ubuntu Pro or Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) repositories.
Affected
2 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| canonical | ubuntu-pro-client | < 37.3 | 37.3 |
| ubuntu | ubuntu-advantage-tools | — | — |
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.15.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
vendor_ubuntu9.0CRITICAL
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Ubuntu
Ubuntu Advantage Tools (pro client) vulnerabilities
vendor_ubuntu·2026-07-16·CVSS 9.0
CVE-2026-9494 [CRITICAL] Ubuntu Advantage Tools (pro client) vulnerabilities
Title: Ubuntu Advantage Tools (pro client) vulnerabilities
Summary: Several security issues were fixed in Ubuntu Advantage Tools.
Bilal Teke discovered that Ubuntu Advantage Tools exposed the Pro bearer
token in command-line arguments when validating APT credentials. A local
attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive information
and gain unauthorized access to Ubuntu Pro repositories. (CVE-2026-9494)
Frederick Jerusha discovered that Ubuntu Advantage Tools did not properly
validate data received from the contract server when writing APT source
files. An attacker could possibly use this issue to inject arbitrary APT
configuration and execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2026-11386)
Mateusz Gierblinski discovered that Ubuntu Advantage Tools did not
properly handle symbolic links
GHSA
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Canonical ubuntu-pro-client (formerly ubuntu-advantage-tools).
ghsa_unreviewed·2026-07-16
CVE-2026-9494 [MEDIUM] CWE-214 An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Canonical ubuntu-pro-client (formerly ubuntu-advantage-tools).
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Canonical ubuntu-pro-client (formerly ubuntu-advantage-tools). The client validates Ubuntu Pro APT credentials by executing /usr/lib/apt/apt-helper using the download-file command. During this process, the secret bearer token is embedded directly in
the cleartext URL component passed via the command-line arguments (argv), resulting in a URL format such as https://bearer:@esm.ubuntu.com/.../. On systems utilizing a default-mounted /proc file system where process-hiding mitigations (such as hidepid) are disabled, an unprivileged local attacker can
monitor system processes and read the sensitive bearer token directly from /proc/cmdline while the helper process is actively running. This leaked token can subsequently be used to gain unauthorized
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
No writeups or analysis indexed.
2026-07-16
Published