# CVE-2020-13160: Other in n/a

> A format string vulnerability in AnyDesk allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Linux and FreeBSD systems.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Jun 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5hwp-hcwg-rrjp

## What is CVE-2020-13160?

CVE-2020-13160 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 Jun 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

AnyDesk before 5.5.3 on Linux and FreeBSD has a format string vulnerability that can be exploited for remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-134 (Use of Externally-Controlled Format String)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-13160?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Anydesk Anydesk.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-13160?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-13160 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-13160 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-13160 exists.

Public exploit code:

- AnyDesk GUI Format String Write (metasploit)
- AnyDesk 5.5.2 - Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2025-27918](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27918/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-14397](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14397/): AnyDesk before 3.6.1 on Windows has a DLL injection vulnerability. (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-44426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44426/): File upload in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-20094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-20094/): AnyDesk 2.5.0 Unquoted Service Path Elevation of Privilege (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2019-25261](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25261/): AnyDesk 5.4.0 - Unquoted Service Path (high 8.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-13160 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-13160 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 Jun 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-13160 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2020-13160/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13160/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13160
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-13160
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-13160

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-13160/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.