# CVE-2020-35769: Command injection in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on Windows systems running Webmin by exploiting improper handling of special characters in CGI query arguments.

- **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:** 29 Dec 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8hm5-9h77-h5hm

## What is CVE-2020-35769?

CVE-2020-35769 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Webmin Webmin, published on 29 Dec 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

miniserv.pl in Webmin 1.962 on Windows mishandles special characters in query arguments to the CGI program.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-35769?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Webmin Webmin.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-35769?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-35769 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-35769 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-35769 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Webmin Webmin

- [CVE-2019-15107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15107/): Webmin Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2002-2201](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-2201/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2001-1196](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-1196/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-12828](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12828/): Webmin CGI Command Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2022-36446](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-36446/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-35769 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-35769 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Webmin Webmin, published on 29 Dec 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-2020-35769 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Webmin Webmin. 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-2020-35769/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35769/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-35769
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-35769
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-35769

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35769/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.