CVE-2020-15163 Invalid root may become trusted root in The Update Framework (TUF)
Attackers can compromise the software update trust chain by serving invalid root metadata, enabling malicious code execution via future updates.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2020-15163?
CVE-2020-15163 is a high-severity vulnerability in theupdateframework tuf, published on 9 Sep 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Python TUF (The Update Framework) reference implementation before version 0.12 it will incorrectly trust a previously downloaded root metadata file which failed verification at download time. This allows an attacker who is able to serve multiple new versions of root metadata (i.e. by a person-in-the-middle attack) culminating in a version which has not been correctly signed to control the trust chain for future updates. This is fixed in version 0.12 and newer.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-15163?
3 open source packages ship an affected version, including tuf. It affects 1 product.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
tuf PyPI | All versions | 0.12.0 |
tuf PyPI | All versions | 0.12.0 |
tuf PyPI | All versions | 0.12.0 |
Products include Linuxfoundation the Update Framework.
How do I fix CVE-2020-15163?
Upgrade tuf to 0.12.0 or later.
Is CVE-2020-15163 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-15163 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in theupdateframework tuf
Sources
Also known as GHSA-f8mr-jv2c-v8mg, PYSEC-2020-145.