CVE-2020-16846
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitSaltStack Salt Command Injection in netapi ssh client
Published May 24, 2022 · Updated Jul 8, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2020-16846, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-17490, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-25592, DLA-2480-1, DSA-4837-1, GHSA-qr38-h96j-2j3w, PYSEC-2020-104, SUSE-SU-2020:14538-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3155-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3171-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3243-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3244-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3245-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3250-1, SUSE-SU-2020:3251-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-16846, USN-6948-1
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2020-16846 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Salt (Saltstack), Debian Linux, Fedora (Fedoraproject) and 22 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Apr 24, 2021. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 100% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including bind-formula 0.1.1603299886.60e4bcf-3.3.2, cobbler 2.2.2-0.68.12.1, grafana-formula 0.3.0-3.3.2.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
100%
Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2020-16846 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt through 3002. Sending crafted web requests to the Salt API, with the SSH client enabled, can result in shell injection.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Nov 3, 2021 | May 3, 2022 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Apr 24, 2021 | May 3, 2022 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Nov 3, 2021 | May 3, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Nov 3, 2021 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
355 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| SaltSaltstack | 3001, 3002 | 2015.8.10 |
| Debian LinuxDebian | 10.0, 9.0 | n/a |
| FedoraFedoraproject | 31 | n/a |
| LeapOpensuse | 15.1 | n/a |
| bind-formulasuse | See advisory | 0.1.1603299886.60e4bcf-3.3.2 |
Patched Releases
bind-formula
0.1.1603299886.60e4bcf-3.3.2
cobbler
2.2.2-0.68.12.1
grafana-formula
0.3.0-3.3.2
image-sync-formula
0.1.1602150122.f08af0a-3.6.2
koan
2.2.2-0.68.12.1
mgr-daemon
4.1.3-2.6.3, 4.1.3-5.20.1
prometheus-exporters-formula
0.8.0-3.16.2
prometheus-formula
0.3.0-3.3.1
pxe-formula
0.1.1602490840.4f32148-3.3.2
py26-compat-salt
2016.11.10-10.17.1, 2016.11.10-6.3.3, 2016.11.10-6.41.1
python-susemanager-retail
1.0.1602150122.f08af0a-3.3.2
python2-salt
3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1
python2-spacewalk-check
4.1.7-27.38.1
python2-spacewalk-client-setup
4.1.7-27.38.1
python2-spacewalk-client-tools
4.1.7-27.38.1
python3-salt
3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1
python3-spacewalk-check
4.1.7-4.6.4
python3-spacewalk-client-setup
4.1.7-4.6.4
python3-spacewalk-client-tools
4.1.7-4.6.4
python3-susemanager-retail
1.0.1602150122.f08af0a-3.3.2
Salt
0.17.5+ds-1ubuntu0.1~esm4, 2015.8.10, 2015.8.13, 2015.8.8+ds-1ubuntu0.1+esm2, 2016.11.10, 2016.11.10-43.63.1, 2016.11.2+ds-1+deb9u6, 2016.11.3, 2016.11.4-48.13.1, 2016.11.6, 2016.3.4, 2016.3.6, 2016.3.8, 2017.7.4, 2017.7.4+dfsg1-1ubuntu18.04.2+esm1, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.4+dfsg1-6+deb10u2, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.5, 2019.2.6, 2019.2.7-1, 3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1, 3000.3, 3000.4, 3001.2, 3002-r1, 3002.1
salt-api
2016.11.4-48.13.1, 3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1
salt-bash-completion
3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1
salt-cloud
3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1
salt-doc
2016.11.10-43.63.1, 3000-4.20.1, 3000-46.114.1, 3000-5.91.1, 3000-6.51.1, 3000-lp151.5.30.1, 3000-lp152.3.15.1
Timeline
Added to Industry KEV feed
Apr 24, 2021
Added to CISA KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to CIRCL KEV
Nov 3, 2021
Added to ENISA EUVD
Nov 3, 2021
Publicly disclosed
May 24, 2022
Last updated
Jul 8, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
References
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1144447
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1159670
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1167907
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1169664
- advisoryhttps://bugzilla.suse.com/1173199
FAQ
Common Questions.
An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt through 3002.
Affected: Salt (Saltstack) versions 3001, 3002; Debian Linux versions 10.0, 9.0; Fedora (Fedoraproject) versions 31, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Apr 24, 2021.
Yes. It was added on Nov 3, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of May 3, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including bind-formula 0.1.1603299886.60e4bcf-3.3.2, cobbler 2.2.2-0.68.12.1, grafana-formula 0.3.0-3.3.2.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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