CVE-2020-15163

Invalid root may become trusted root in The Update Framework (TUF)

HIGH
8.2
CVSS Score
Published: September 9, 2020 at 05:30 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:56 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsThe Update FrameworkTheupdateframework

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Severity
HIGH8.2
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.7%

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 0.12.0
Affected range stops below 0.12.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
v < 0.12
Affected range stops below 0.12, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-863CWE-345

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