CVE-2020-15778
OpenSSH scp Command Injection Vulnerability
Description
scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows."
INFO
Published Date :
July 24, 2020, 2:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 28, 2025, 6:12 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2020-15778
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 2.0 | MEDIUM | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
Solution
- Update OpenSSH to the latest version.
- Update the affected packages.
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2020-15778 has a 59 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2020-15778.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3166 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://github.com/cpandya2909/CVE-2020-15778/ | Exploit Third Party Advisory |
| https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25005567 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-06 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0007/ | Third Party Advisory |
| https://www.openssh.com/security.html | Vendor Advisory |
| https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3166 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://github.com/cpandya2909/CVE-2020-15778/ | Exploit Third Party Advisory |
| https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25005567 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-06 | Third Party Advisory |
| https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0007/ | Third Party Advisory |
| https://www.openssh.com/security.html | Vendor Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2020-15778 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2020-15778
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
None
None
This script is a safe and simple tool that helps system users, students, and administrators check if their SCP (Secure Copy) client is vulnerable to CVE-2020-15778, a command injection vulnerability in OpenSSH SCP (versions ≤ 8.3p1).
Shell
None
Python
None
None
None
Black-box network penetration testing project using tools like Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit & Burp Suite. Includes CVSS-based risk assessment & remediation roadmap.
blackbox-testing burpsuite cybersecurity-and-ethical-hacking g-10 g-10-cs metasploit network-security nmap sure-trust vapt wireshark vulnerability-assessement
A small project for running vulners script functionality when no internet is available.
Python
Repo voor de NPE opdracht van cybersecurity en virtualisatie
Shell PowerShell
This is my starred repositories including the description for each tool. Makes search/filter over them easier.
None
Python
Accélération de la vitesse de scan de ports en combinant Nmap & Masscan
Shell
None
None
Python
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2020-15778 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2020-15778 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 28, 2025
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Removed CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added Reference Type CVE: https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3166 Types: Third Party Advisory Added Reference Type MITRE: https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3166 Types: Third Party Advisory -
CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Nov. 21, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3166 Added Reference https://github.com/cpandya2909/CVE-2020-15778/ Added Reference https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25005567 Added Reference https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-06 Added Reference https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0007/ Added Reference https://www.openssh.com/security.html -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Aug. 04, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jul. 03, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CWE CISA-ADP CWE-78 Added CVSS V3.1 CISA-ADP AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jun. 04, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jun. 04, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference MITRE https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3166 [No types assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
May. 17, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
May. 14, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Apr. 11, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Mar. 21, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Tag MITRE disputed -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Nov. 07, 2023
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Description ** DISPUTED ** scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows." scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows." -
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Feb. 24, 2023
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Reference Type https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-06 No Types Assigned https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-06 Third Party Advisory -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Dec. 28, 2022
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-06 [No Types Assigned] -
CPE Deprecation Remap by [email protected]
Jun. 22, 2021
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:netapp:brocade_fabric_os:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* OR *cpe:2.3:o:broadcom:fabric_operating_system:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* -
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Apr. 19, 2021
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Reference Type https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25005567 No Types Assigned https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25005567 Third Party Advisory Changed Reference Type https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0007/ No Types Assigned https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0007/ Third Party Advisory Added CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:o:netapp:a700s_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* OR cpe:2.3:h:netapp:a700s:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_unified_manager:*:*:*:*:*:vmware_vsphere:*:* versions from (including) 9.5 *cpe:2.3:a:netapp:hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:netapp:steelstore_cloud_integrated_storage:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:netapp:brocade_fabric_os:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Apr. 12, 2021
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Description scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows." ** DISPUTED ** scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows." -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Nov. 06, 2020
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Description scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in scp.c remote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows." scp in OpenSSH through 8.3p1 allows command injection in the scp.c toremote function, as demonstrated by backtick characters in the destination argument. NOTE: the vendor reportedly has stated that they intentionally omit validation of "anomalous argument transfers" because that could "stand a great chance of breaking existing workflows." Added Reference https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25005567 [No Types Assigned] -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jul. 31, 2020
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0007/ [No Types Assigned] -
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 29, 2020
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V2 Metadata Victim must voluntarily interact with attack mechanism Added CVSS V2 NIST (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P) Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Changed Reference Type https://github.com/cpandya2909/CVE-2020-15778/ No Types Assigned https://github.com/cpandya2909/CVE-2020-15778/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory Changed Reference Type https://www.openssh.com/security.html No Types Assigned https://www.openssh.com/security.html Vendor Advisory Added CWE NIST CWE-78 Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 8.3 *cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:8.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:8.3:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vulnerability Scoring Details
Base CVSS Score: 7.8
Base CVSS Score: 6.8
Exploit Prediction
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days.
67.52 }} -0.44%
score
0.98493
percentile