# CVE-2020-10759: Security feature bypass in fwupd

> Attackers can bypass PGP signature checks in fwupd to install unsigned firmware, compromising system integrity and confidentiality.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALSA-2020:4436, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-10759, DLA-2274-1, GHSA-phhj-vpf5-5666, MGASA-2021-0158, OESA-2022-1801, RHSA-2020:4436, RLSA-2020:4436, SUSE-SU-2020:1681-1, SUSE-SU-2021:1107-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-10759, USN-4395-1, openSUSE-SU-2020:0849-1, openSUSE-SU-2021:0522-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:10774-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:10951-1

## What is CVE-2020-10759?

CVE-2020-10759 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 15 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A PGP signature bypass flaw was found in fwupd (all versions), which could lead to the installation of unsigned firmware. As per upstream, a signature bypass is theoretically possible, but not practical because the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) is either not implemented or enabled in versions of fwupd shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and 8. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality and integrity.

Weakness: CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-10759?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `appstream-data` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 8-20200724.el8 |
| `libxmlb` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 0.1.15-1.el8 |
| `appstream-data` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:8-20200724.el8 |
| `gnome-software` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.36.1-4.el8 |
| `gnome-software-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.36.1-4.el8 |
| `gnome-software-debugsource` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | All versions | 0:3.36.1-4.el8 |
| `fwupd` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:1.4.2-4.el8 |
| `fwupd-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:1.4.2-4.el8 |
| `fwupd-debugsource` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:1.4.2-4.el8 |
| `libxmlb` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:0.1.15-1.el8 |
| `libxmlb-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:0.1.15-1.el8 |
| `libxmlb-debugsource` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:0.1.15-1.el8 |
| `libxmlb-tests-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos | All versions | 0:0.1.15-1.el8 |
| `appstream-data` | Rocky Linux:8 | All versions | 0:8-20200724.el8 |
| `libxmlb` | Rocky Linux:8 | All versions | 0:0.1.15-1.el8 |
| `fwupd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 SP1 | All versions | 1.0.9-6.3.1 |
| `fwupd` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 SP2 | All versions | 1.2.14-5.8.2 |
| `fwupd` | openSUSE:Leap 15.1 | All versions | 1.0.9-lp151.2.3.1 |
| `fwupd` | openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | All versions | 1.2.14-lp152.3.9.1 |
| `fwupd` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 1.5.8-1.5 |

Products: Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-10759?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2020-10759 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-10759 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Proof of Concept for CVE-2020-10759 (fwupd signature validation bypass) (github_poc): https://github.com/justinsteven/CVE-2020-10759-poc

## Other vulnerabilities in Redhat Enterprise Linux

- [CVE-2018-14667](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14667/): Red Hat JBoss RichFaces Framework Expression Language Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-20325](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20325/): Missing fixes for CVE-2021-40438 and CVE-2021-26691 in the versions of httpd, as shipped in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5.0, causes a securit (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-25011](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-25011/): Memory corruption in libwebp (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-25014](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-25014/): Other in libwebp (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-3585](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-3585/): Supply chain in redhat-upgrade-tool (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-10759 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-10759 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Redhat Enterprise Linux, published on 15 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-10759 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Redhat Enterprise 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-2020-10759/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10759/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-10759
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-10759
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-10759

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10759/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.