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CVE-2020-13696

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does...

4.4 MediumFix available

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

Exploit likelihood

0.36%Down 1.0 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 4.4

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
CVE-2020-13696
CVSS 3.1
4.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVSS 2.0
3.6 LowAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N
Weakness
CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
CVE-2020-13696
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-5919 No score

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
EUVD-2020-5919
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-v59g-m57m-jww7 4.4

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does...

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
GHSA-v59g-m57m-jww7
CVSS 3.1
4.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Weakness
CWE-732, CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 4.4

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
CVE-2020-13696
CVSS 3.1
4.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-03
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-13696 4.4

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-13696
CVSS 3.1
4.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 7 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-13696 4.4

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-13696
CVSS 3.1
4.4 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2020-0257 No score

Updated xawtv packages fix security vulnerability

Updated xawtv packages fix security vulnerability:

The v4l-conf program in xawtv allows users to determine the existence of file names in directories they do not have access to, and allows a user to have the system open files they do not have access to, though it does not provide the user access to the file contents (CVE-2020-13696).

Record
MGASA-2020-0257
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2020:0784-1 No score

Security update for xawtv

This update for xawtv fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2020-13696: Fixed an issue in setuid-root program that which could have allowed arbitrary file existence tests and open() with O_RDWR (boo#1171655).
Record
openSUSE-SU-2020:0784-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2020:0787-1 No score

Security update for xawtv

This update for xawtv fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2020-13696: Fixed an issue in setuid-root program that which could have allowed arbitrary file existence tests and open() with O_RDWR (boo#1171655).

This update was imported from the openSUSE:Leap:15.1:Update update project.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2020:0787-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11517-1 No score

alevtd-3.107-2.5 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the alevtd-3.107-2.5 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11517-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2020:1712-1 No score

Security update for xawtv

This update for xawtv fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2020-13696: Fixed an issue in setuid-root program that which could have allowed arbitrary file existence tests and open() with O_RDWR (bsc#1171655).
Record
SUSE-SU-2020:1712-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4518-1 No score

xawtv vulnerability

Matthias Gerstner discovered that xawtv incorrectly handled opening files. A local attacker could possibly use this issue to open and write to arbitrary files and escalate privileges. (CVE-2020-13696)

Record
USN-4518-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xawtv
Debian:12
before 3.107-1
3.107-1
xawtv
Debian:13
before 3.107-1
3.107-1
xawtv
Debian:14
before 3.107-1
3.107-1
xawtv
Debian:8
before 3.103-3+deb8u1, plus listed versions
3.103-3
3.103-3+deb8u1
xawtv
Mageia:7
before 3.107-1.1.mga7
3.107-1.1.mga7
xawtv
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP4
before 3.103-6.3.1
3.103-6.3.1
xawtv
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP5
before 3.103-6.3.1
3.103-6.3.1
xawtv
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
before 3.103-3+deb8u1build0.16.04.1, plus listed versions
3.103-33.103-3build1
3.103-3+deb8u1build0.16.04.1
xawtv
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
3.103-4build1
None known
xawtv
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
3.106-1
None known
xawtv
openSUSE:Leap 15.1
before 3.103-lp151.3.3.1
3.103-lp151.3.3.1
xawtv
SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP1
before 3.103-bp151.4.3.1
3.103-bp151.4.3.1
xawtv
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 3.107-2.5
3.107-2.5

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD, OSV
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-13696 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.4) in Debian Linux, published June 7, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.36%, the 29th percentile. Fixed in xawtv 3.107-1.

References

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