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CVE-2020-16122

Packagekit's apt backend lets user install untrusted local packages

8.2 HighFix available

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.34%Down 0.1 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.2

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.

Record
CVE-2020-16122
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-269
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-8088 8.2

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.

Record
EUVD-2020-8088
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jfj4-x686-g8vv 7.8

PackageKit's apt backend mistakenly treated all local debs as trusted. The apt security model is...

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.

Record
GHSA-jfj4-x686-g8vv
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-345
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 8.2

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.

Record
CVE-2020-16122
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
2.1 LowAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
Weakness
CWE-269, CWE-345
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.8

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.

Record
CVE-2020-16122
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-16122 7.8

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.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2020-16122
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-16122 7.8

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.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2020-16122
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1
8.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4538-1 No score

packagekit vulnerabilities

Vaisha Bernard discovered that PackageKit incorrectly handled certain methods. A local attacker could use this issue to learn the MIME type of any file on the system. (CVE-2020-16121)

Sami Niemimäki discovered that PackageKit incorrectly handled local deb packages. A local user could possibly use this issue to install untrusted packages, contrary to expectations. (CVE-2020-16122)

Record
USN-4538-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
packagekit
Debian:12
 before 1.2.1-1
1.2.1-1
packagekit
Debian:13
 before 1.2.1-1
1.2.1-1
packagekit
Debian:14
 before 1.2.1-1
1.2.1-1
packagekit
Debian:9
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 1.1.5-2+deb9u2, plus listed versions
1.1.5-21.1.5-2+deb9u1
1.1.5-2+deb9u2
packagekit
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 before 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5, plus listed versions
0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.30.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu10.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.10.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.20.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.30.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.4
0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5
packagekit
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 before 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6, plus listed versions
1.1.7-11.1.9-11.1.9-1ubuntu11.1.9-1ubuntu21.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.11.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.31.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.41.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.5
1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6
packagekit
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
 before 1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions
1.1.12-5ubuntu41.1.13-11.1.13-21.1.13-2build11.1.13-2ubuntu1
1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1
packagekit
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5, plus listed versions
0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.30.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu10.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.10.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.20.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.30.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.4
0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5
packagekit
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6, plus listed versions
1.1.7-11.1.9-11.1.9-1ubuntu11.1.9-1ubuntu21.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.11.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.31.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.41.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.5
1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6
packagekit
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions
1.1.12-5ubuntu41.1.13-11.1.13-21.1.13-2build11.1.13-2ubuntu1
1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1

History

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

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

In short

CVE-2020-16122 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.2) in Packagekit, published June 13, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.34%, the 27th percentile. Fixed in packagekit 1.2.1-1.

References

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