# CVE-2020-5196: Missing authorization in n/a

> Authenticated attackers can bypass permissions to view hidden files and create directories in Cerberus FTP Server Enterprise Edition.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9v5j-4424-9fr7

## What is CVE-2020-5196?

CVE-2020-5196 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Jan 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Cerberus FTP Server Enterprise Edition prior to versions 11.0.3 and 10.0.18 allows an authenticated attacker to create files, display hidden files, list directories, and list files without the permission to zip and download (or unzip and upload) files. There are multiple ways to bypass certain permissions by utilizing the zip and unzip features. As a result, users without permission can see files, folders, and hidden files, and can create directories without permission.

Weakness: CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5196?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cerberusftp Ftp Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-5196?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-5196 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-5196 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-5196 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2017-6367](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6367/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2026-6265](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6265/): Local Privilege Escalation in Cerberus FTP Server =< 2025.4.2 (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2012-2999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2999/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2019-25046](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25046/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2020-5195](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5195/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-5196 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-5196 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Jan 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-5196 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2020-5196/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5196/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5196
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5196
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5196

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5196/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.