CVE-2020-16121

PackageKit error messages leak presence and mimetype of files to unprivileged users

LOW
3.3
CVSS Score
Published: November 7, 2020 at 04:10 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:57 AM UTC
3 products affected across 3 vendorsUbuntu LinuxPackagekitPackageKit

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Severity
LOW3.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.5%

Description

PackageKit provided detailed error messages to unprivileged callers that exposed information about file presence and mimetype of files that the user would be unable to determine on its own.

Affected

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

0.8.17-4ubuntu6 ≤ v < 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.51.1.13-2ubuntu ≤ v < 1.1.13-2ubuntu1.11.1.9-1ubuntu2 ≤ v < 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.60.8.17-4ubuntu61.1.13-2ubuntu1.1.9-1ubuntu2
Affected range stops below 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

References (2)

CVSS

3.3LOWcanonical
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-209

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