CVE-2020-16846: Salt SaltStack Salt Command Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-qr38-h96j-2j3w
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2020-16846 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) saltstack salt command injection vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Salt libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves saltstack salt command injection in netapi ssh client. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2015.8.13, 2016.3.8, 2016.11.10, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.6, 3000.4, 3001.2, 3002.1.

CVE-2020-16846 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2020-16846
GHSA Identifier GHSA-qr38-h96j-2j3w
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Salt
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2020-16846

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Salt dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

salt fixed: 2015.8.13 
pip install salt>=2015.8.13
salt fixed: 2016.3.8 
pip install salt>=2016.3.8
salt fixed: 2016.11.10 
pip install salt>=2016.11.10
salt fixed: 2017.7.8 
pip install salt>=2017.7.8
salt fixed: 2018.3.5 
pip install salt>=2018.3.5
salt fixed: 2019.2.6 
pip install salt>=2019.2.6
salt fixed: 3000.4 
pip install salt>=3000.4
salt fixed: 3001.2 
pip install salt>=3001.2
salt fixed: 3002.1 
pip install salt>=3002.1
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show salt

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2020-16846, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show salt

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Salt in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2015.8.13), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show salt command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Salt, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt through 3002. Sending crafted web requests to the Salt API, with the SSH client enabled, can result in shell injection.

CVE-2020-16846 Affected Salt Versions

9 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2015.8.132016.3.82016.11.102017.7.82018.3.52019.2.63000.43001.23002.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
< 2015.8.13
2015.8.13
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 2016.3.0
< 2016.3.8
2016.3.8
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 2016.11.0
< 2016.11.10
2016.11.10
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 2017.5.0
< 2017.7.8
2017.7.8
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 2018.2.0
< 2018.3.5
2018.3.5
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 2019.2.0
< 2019.2.6
2019.2.6
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 3000.0
< 3000.4
3000.4
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 3001
< 3001.2
3001.2
salt
pypi/salt
PyPI
≥ 3002
< 3002.1
3002.1

References

NVD — CVE-2020-16846 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16846
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-20-1... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1383
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-20-1... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1382
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-20-1... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1381
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-20-1... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1380
www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/zdi-20-1... WEB
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1379
Salt Security Information SECURITY
https://www.saltstack.com/blog/on-november-3-2020-saltstack-publicly-disclosed-three-new-cves
Salt Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4837
www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vul... WEB
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-16846
Salt Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202011-13
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TPOGB2F6XUAIGFDTOCQDNB2VIXFXHWMA
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TPOGB2F6XUAIGFDTOCQDNB2VIXFXHWMA
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/01/msg00000.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00007.html
Salt Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases
Salt Release RELEASE
https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/3002.1.rst#L12
Salt Release RELEASE
https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/3001.2.rst#L10
Salt Release RELEASE
https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/3000.4.rst#L10
Salt Release RELEASE
https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/2019.2.6.rst#L10
Salt Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/saltstack/salt
Salt Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/salt/PYSEC-2020-104.yaml
Salt Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00029.html
Salt Security Information SECURITY
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160039/SaltStack-Salt-REST-API-Arbitrary-Command-Execution.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-16846?
CVE-2020-16846 is a security vulnerability in Salt involving SaltStack Salt Command Injection in netapi ssh client under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Salt versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2015.8.13, 2016.3.8, 2016.11.10, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.6, 3000.4, 3001.2, 3002.1 across affected packages: salt.
What version fixes CVE-2020-16846?
Upgrading to 2015.8.13, 2016.3.8, 2016.11.10, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.6, 3000.4, 3001.2, 3002.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is salt affected?
Yes, salt is affected in releases prior to 2015.8.13, 2016.3.8, 2016.11.10, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.6, 3000.4, 3001.2, 3002.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2015.8.13, 2016.3.8, 2016.11.10, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.6, 3000.4, 3001.2, 3002.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-16846?
CVE-2020-16846 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2020-16846?
CVE-2020-16846 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2020-16846?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show salt'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-qr38-h96j-2j3w",
  "modified" : "2025-10-22T17:55:29Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T17:33:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2020-16846" ],
  "summary" : "SaltStack Salt Command Injection in netapi ssh client",
  "details" : "An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt through 3002. Sending crafted web requests to the Salt API, with the SSH client enabled, can result in shell injection.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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      "name" : "salt"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
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  }, {
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    } ]
  }, {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "salt"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      "name" : "salt"
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    "ranges" : [ {
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        "introduced" : "3000.0"
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        "fixed" : "3000.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "salt"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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        "introduced" : "3001"
      }, {
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  }, {
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    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16846"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1383"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1382"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1381"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1380"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1379"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.saltstack.com/blog/on-november-3-2020-saltstack-publicly-disclosed-three-new-cves"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4837"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-16846"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202011-13"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TPOGB2F6XUAIGFDTOCQDNB2VIXFXHWMA"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/TPOGB2F6XUAIGFDTOCQDNB2VIXFXHWMA"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/01/msg00000.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00007.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/3002.1.rst#L12"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/3001.2.rst#L10"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/3000.4.rst#L10"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/8f9405cf8e6f7d7776d5000841c886dec6d96250/doc/topics/releases/2019.2.6.rst#L10"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/saltstack/salt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/salt/PYSEC-2020-104.yaml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-11/msg00029.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160039/SaltStack-Salt-REST-API-Arbitrary-Command-Execution.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-04-22T22:23:42Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2020-11-06T08:15:00Z"
  }
}