Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability affects ROS actionlib in ROS Melodic Morenia and earlier. Unsafe YAML parsing can create Python objects during action message handling, which the public record says could let an attacker with local or remote access make ROS Master execute arbitrary Python code.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for robotics environments because impact is full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise, but prioritize based on whether vulnerable ROS systems are reachable by untrusted users.
Technical view
CVE-2020-10289 is unsafe YAML loading in actionlib/tools/library.py around line 132. The issue occurs when action messages are processed for sending. CVSS 3.0 is 8.0 with network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, and user interaction required.
Likely exposure
Organizations using Open Robotics ROS Melodic Morenia or earlier distributions with actionlib are potentially exposed, especially where ROS Master or related ROS communication is reachable by untrusted local or remote users.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates network reachability, low attack complexity, low privileges, and required user interaction.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and the linked actionlib pull request. The record identifies unsafe YAML parsing, affected ROS versions, and a safe_load direction, but does not provide confirmed exploitation or package-level fixed version data.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade ROS/actionlib to a vendor-fixed release if available.
- Review the linked actionlib pull request and vendor guidance before patching.
- Replace unsafe YAML loading with safe loading in maintained forks.
- Restrict ROS Master access to trusted hosts and users.
- Avoid exposing ROS communication paths to untrusted networks.
Validation and detection
- Inventory ROS distributions and actionlib versions in use.
- Check whether systems run ROS Melodic Morenia or earlier.
- Inspect actionlib/tools/library.py for unsafe yaml.load usage.
- Verify whether the fix from actionlib PR 171 is present.
- Review network access paths to ROS Master.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-20: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-10289 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.15.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/ros/actionlib/pull/171CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.