CVE-2020-12856
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other...
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, because of how Bluetooth is used.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, because of how Bluetooth is used.
- Record
CVE-2020-12856- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 7.5 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, because of how Bluetooth is used.
- Record
CVE-2020-12856- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-5138 No score
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, because of how Bluetooth is used.
- Record
EUVD-2020-5138- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9q2w-3c47-gq6j No score
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other...
OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, because of how Bluetooth is used.
- Record
GHSA-9q2w-3c47-gq6j- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVASB-A-157038281 No score
In smp_decide_association_model of smp_act.cc, there is a possible silent bluetooth pairing due to a confused deputy. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
- Record
ASB-A-157038281- Updated
- 2026-11-06
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
platform/packages/apps/BluetoothAndroid |
11-next:0 up to 11-next:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 11-next |
11-next:2020-11-01 |
platform/system/btAndroid |
11-next:0 up to 11-next:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 11-next |
11-next:2020-11-01 |
platform/hardware/libhardwareAndroid |
8.0:0 up to 8.0:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 8.0 |
8.0:2020-11-01 |
platform/packages/apps/BluetoothAndroid |
8.0:0 up to 8.0:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 8.0 |
8.0:2020-11-01 |
platform/system/btAndroid |
8.0:0 up to 8.0:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 8.0 |
8.0:2020-11-01 |
platform/hardware/libhardwareAndroid |
8.1:0 up to 8.1:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 8.1 |
8.1:2020-11-01 |
platform/packages/apps/BluetoothAndroid |
8.1:0 up to 8.1:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 8.1 |
8.1:2020-11-01 |
platform/system/btAndroid |
8.1:0 up to 8.1:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 8.1 |
8.1:2020-11-01 |
platform/packages/apps/BluetoothAndroid |
9:0 up to 9:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 9 |
9:2020-11-01 |
platform/system/btAndroid |
9:0 up to 9:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 9 |
9:2020-11-01 |
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| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
platform/packages/apps/BluetoothAndroid |
10:0 up to 10:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 10 |
10:2020-11-01 |
platform/system/btAndroid |
10:0 up to 10:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 10 |
10:2020-11-01 |
platform/packages/apps/BluetoothAndroid |
11:0 up to 11:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 11 |
11:2020-11-01 |
platform/system/btAndroid |
11:0 up to 11:2020-11-01, plus listed versions 11 |
11:2020-11-01 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | alwentiu/COVIDSafe-CVE-2020-12856 | 2020-05-15 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | OSV | |
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-12856 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Alberta Abtracetogether, published May 18, 2020. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 5.14%, the 92nd percentile. Fixed in platform/packages/apps/Bluetooth 11-next:2020-11-01.
References
docs.google.com/document/d/1u5a5ersKBH6eG362atALrzuXo3zuZ70qrGomWVEC27U/edit?usp=sharing
github.com/alwentiu/COVIDSafe-CVE-2020-12856/blob/master/README.md
covidsafe.watch/issue-register/cve-2020-12856-long-term-tracking-and-possibly-enables-other-bluetooth-based-attack-vectors
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-12856
source.android.com/security/bulletin/2020-11-01
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android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Bluetooth/+/81c1c7d2d1681434413a615eea532e85fee43db0