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CVE Record

CVE-2020-16122: Packagekit's apt backend lets user install untrusted local packages

PackageKit's apt backend mistakenly treated all local debs as trusted. The apt security model is based on repository trust and not on the contents of individual files. On sites with configured PolicyKit rules this may allow users to install malicious packages.

HighCVSS 8.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

PackageKit’s apt backend could treat local Debian packages as trusted even though apt trusts repositories, not individual files. Where PolicyKit rules allow users to install packages, a user could install an untrusted package and gain serious system impact.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for Linux desktop and shared workstation fleets. It is not internet-facing, but it can turn weak local package-install policy into full system compromise.

Technical view

CVE-2020-16122 is a CWE-269 privilege-management flaw in PackageKit’s apt backend. Affected Ubuntu PackageKit builds include 1.1.13-2ubuntu, 1.1.9-1ubuntu, and 0.8.17-4ubuntu. The issue is local, low-complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction, and has CVSS 8.2.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Ubuntu-derived systems running the affected PackageKit apt backend versions, especially endpoints where PolicyKit permits non-administrators or delegated users to install local packages.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Abuse requires local access, low privileges, and interaction with a local package installation path under permissive PolicyKit rules.

Researcher notes

The central trust failure is treating local deb files as trusted despite apt’s repository-based trust model. Patch status and exact fixed versions are not present in the supplied bundle, so remediation should be verified against vendor advisories.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor guidance for fixed PackageKit packages.
  • Update affected PackageKit packages when vendor fixes are available.
  • Restrict PolicyKit rules allowing non-admin package installation.
  • Block untrusted local package installation workflows pending remediation.
  • Remove unnecessary PackageKit package-install capability where operationally safe.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory PackageKit versions on Ubuntu-derived hosts.
  • Identify systems using the PackageKit apt backend.
  • Review PolicyKit rules for package installation permissions.
  • Confirm whether non-admin users can install local packages.
  • Prioritize endpoints with shared-user or delegated-admin access.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-269: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup

Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-16122 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
8.2 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.2CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.56Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.2High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-16122Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
PackageKitpackagekit1.1.13-2ubuntu, 1.1.9-1ubuntu, 0.8.17-4ubuntuListed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-269

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-269 · source CWE mapping

Improper Privilege Management

Improper Privilege Management represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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