# CVE-2020-28366: Arbitrary code execution in go command with cgo in cmd/go and cmd/cgo

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code during build time by exploiting a code injection flaw in the Go toolchain's cgo component via malicious object files.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** AZL-38452, BIT-golang-2020-28366, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-28366, GHSA-mwfg-6wv9-379f, GO-2022-0475, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-28366

## What is CVE-2020-28366?

CVE-2020-28366 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 18 Nov 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Code injection in the go command with cgo before Go 1.14.12 and Go 1.15.5 allows arbitrary code execution at build time via a malicious unquoted symbol name in a linked object file.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-28366?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including golang and toolchain. It affects 4 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `golang` | Bitnami | All versions | 1.14.12, 1.15.5 |
| `toolchain` | Go | All versions | 1.14.12, 1.15.5 |

Products: Fedoraproject Fedora, Golang Go, Netapp Cloud Insights Telegraf Agent, Netapp Trident.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-28366?

Upgrade golang to a fixed version for your release line: 1.14.12 or 1.15.5.

## Is CVE-2020-28366 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-28366 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fedoraproject Fedora

- [CVE-2024-4577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4577/): PHP-CGI OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39226/): Grafana Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-5544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5544/): VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4947/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4671/): Google Chromium Visuals Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-28366 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-28366 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 18 Nov 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-28366 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- golang (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 1.14.12, 1.15.5
- toolchain (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 1.14.12, 1.15.5

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-2020-28366/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28366/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-28366
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28366
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-28366

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28366/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.