# CVE-2020-16124: Integer overflow in ROS communications library

> Unauthenticated network traffic can trigger an integer overflow in the ROS XML RPC library, potentially causing unexpected behavior or denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Oct 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2020-16124, GHSA-gvrq-7c4p-64rf, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-16124

## What is CVE-2020-16124?

CVE-2020-16124 is a high-severity vulnerability in openrobotics ros_comm ROS communications packages, published on 13 Oct 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability in the XML RPC library of OpenRobotics ros_comm communications packages allows unauthenticated network traffic to cause unexpected behavior. This issue affects: OpenRobotics ros_comm communications packages Noetic and prior versions. Fixed in https://github.com/ros/ros_comm/pull/2065.

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-16124?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ros Ros-Comm.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-16124?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2020-16124 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-16124 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in openrobotics ros_comm ROS communications packages

- [CVE-2019-13445](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13445/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-13566](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13566/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-13465](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13465/): Denial of service in n/a (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2021-37146](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37146/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-16124 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-16124 is a high-severity vulnerability in openrobotics ros_comm ROS communications packages, published on 13 Oct 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-16124 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: openrobotics ros_comm ROS communications packages. 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-2020-16124/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-16124/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-16124
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16124
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-16124

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-16124/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.