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CVE-2020-16125

gdm3 would start gnome-initial-setup if it cannot contact accountservice

MEDIUM
6.8
CVSS Score
Published: November 10, 2020 at 04:20 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 02:57 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorGnome Display Manager

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Severity
MEDIUM6.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%

Description

gdm3 versions before 3.36.2 or 3.38.2 would start gnome-initial-setup if gdm3 can't contact the accountservice service via dbus in a timely manner; on Ubuntu (and potentially derivatives) this could be be chained with an additional issue that could allow a local user to create a new privileged account.

Affected

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

Gnome Display Manager· Gnome
95%
v < 3.36.23.36 ≤ v < 3.36.43.38 ≤ v < 3.38.23.38.0 ≤ v < 3.38.23.363.38
Affected range stops below 3.36.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.36.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 3.38.2, 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:

Patch and advisory references

References (3)

x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gdm3/+bug/1900314
x_refsource_MISCExploitVendor Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gdm/-/issues/642
x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory
Source: [email protected]
https://securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2020-202-gdm3-LPE-unresponsive-accounts-daemon

CVSS

6.8MEDIUM[email protected]
Attack Vector
PHYSICAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-754

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