CVE-2020-12062

Name: CVE-2020-12062
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-06-01T16:15:14.26+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.5/10EPSS 2.27%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-12062 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.5/10 on the CVSS scale. The scp client in OpenSSH 8.2 incorrectly sends duplicate responses to the server upon a utimes system call failure, which allows a malicious unprivileged user on the remote server to overwrite arbitrary files in the client's download directory by creating a crafted subdirectory anywhere on the remote server. The victim must use the command scp -rp to download a file hierarchy containing, anywhere inside, this crafted subdirectory. EPSS estimates a 2.27% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The scp client in OpenSSH 8.2 incorrectly sends duplicate responses to the server upon a utimes system call failure, which allows a malicious unprivileged user on the remote server to overwrite arbitrary files in the client's download directory by creating a crafted subdirectory anywhere on the remote server. The victim must use the command scp -rp to download a file hierarchy containing, anywhere inside, this crafted subdirectory. NOTE: the vendor points out that "this attack can achieve no more than a hostile peer is already able to achieve within the scp protocol" and "utimes does not fail under normal circumstances.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS Probability

2.27%

80.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-20

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Openbsd	Openssh	8.2

References

https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/955854cafca88e0cdcd3d09ca1ad4ada465364a1Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/aad87b88fc2536b1ea023213729aaf4eaabe1894Third Party Advisory
https://www.openssh.com/txt/release-8.3Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/27/1Mailing List, Release Notes, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/955854cafca88e0cdcd3d09ca1ad4ada465364a1Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/aad87b88fc2536b1ea023213729aaf4eaabe1894Third Party Advisory
https://www.openssh.com/txt/release-8.3Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/05/27/1Mailing List, Release Notes, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jun 1, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-12062?

How severe is CVE-2020-12062?

CVE-2020-12062 has a CVSS score of 7.5/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 2.27% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-12062?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2020-12062?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST