Security readout for executives and security teams
SaltStack Salt through 3002 has a critical flaw where crafted requests to the Salt API can trigger shell injection when the SSH client is enabled. In business terms, an exposed management service could let an unauthenticated attacker run commands with serious confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Exposure is most likely where SaltStack Salt through 3002 is deployed, the Salt API is reachable, and Salt SSH functionality is enabled. The bundle does not provide CPEs or a precise product matrix, so confirm exposure through Salt package inventories, service configuration, and vendor distribution advisories. Treat this as urgent for any Salt-managed environment. It affects infrastructure automation, carries unauthenticated network attack characteristics, and is listed in CISA KEV. Patch or isolate exposed Salt API deployments first, then validate remaining Salt instances and management network boundaries. Mitigation focus: Upgrade Salt using SaltStack release guidance or your OS vendor security advisory.; Prioritize systems running Salt through 3002 with Salt API reachable.; Disable or restrict Salt API exposure where it is not required..
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
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-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. 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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-16846 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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.
CISA KEV status
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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releasesCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.saltstack.com/blog/on-november-3-2020-saltstack-publicly-disclosed-three-new-cves/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- FEDORA-2020-9e040bd6ddCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- GLSA-202011-13CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1381/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1383/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1380/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1379/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-20-1382/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201204 [SECURITY] [DLA 2480-1] salt security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- DSA-4837CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_DEBIAN
- [debian-lts-announce] 20220103 [SECURITY] [DLA 2480-2] salt regression updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-16846CVE reference · government-resource
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 Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.