Description
Audacity through 2.3.3 saves temporary files to /var/tmp/audacity-$USER by default. After Audacity creates the temporary directory, it sets its permissions to 755. Any user on the system can read and play the temporary audio .au files located there.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | audacity | 2.4.2~dfsg0-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | audacity | 2.4.2~dfsg0-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | audacity | 2.4.2~dfsg0-4 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | audacity | 2.3.3-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7211-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | audacity | 2.2.1-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7211-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | audacity | 2.1.2-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7211-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP2 | audacity | 2.2.2-bp152.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:2261-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | audacity | 2.2.2-bp152.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:2261-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | audacity | 2.2.2-bp152.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:2261-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | audacity | 2.2.2-bp152.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:2261-1 |
Advisories 2
- USN-7211-1 audacity vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:2261-1 Security update for audacity SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026