Description
apt-cacher-ng through 3.3 allows local users to obtain sensitive information by hijacking the hardcoded TCP port. The /usr/lib/apt-cacher-ng/acngtool program attempts to connect to apt-cacher-ng via TCP on localhost port 3142, even if the explicit SocketPath=/var/run/apt-cacher-ng/socket command-line option is passed. The cron job /etc/cron.daily/apt-cacher-ng (which is active by default) attempts this periodically. Because 3142 is an unprivileged port, any local user can try to bind to this port and will receive requests from acngtool. There can be sensitive data in these requests, e.g., if AdminAuth is enabled in /etc/apt-cacher-ng/security.conf. This sensitive data can leak to unprivileged local users that manage to bind to this port before the apt-cacher-ng daemon can.
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 | apt-cacher-ng | 3.3.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | apt-cacher-ng | 3.3.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | apt-cacher-ng | 3.3.1-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | apt-cacher-ng | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | apt-cacher-ng | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP1 | apt-cacher-ng | 3.1-bp151.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0146-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | apt-cacher-ng | 3.1-lp151.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:0124-1 |
Advisories 2
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0146-1 Security update for apt-cacher-ng SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0124-1 Security update for apt-cacher-ng SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2020-5202
- [oss-security] 20200120 CVE-2020-5202: apt-cacher-ng: a local unprivileged user can impersonate the apt-cacher-ng daemon, possible credentials leak mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20200120 CVE-2020-5202: apt-cacher-ng: a local unprivileged user can impersonate the apt-cacher-ng daemon, possible credentials leak mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0124 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0146 vendor-advisory