CVE-2020-15709

Name: CVE-2020-15709
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-09-05T04:15:13.743+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 5.5/10EPSS 0.31%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-15709 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 5.5/10 on the CVSS scale. Versions of add-apt-repository before 0.98.9.2, 0.96.24.32.14, 0.96.20.10, and 0.92.37.8ubuntu0.1~esm1, printed a PPA (personal package archive) description to the terminal as-is, which allowed PPA owners to provide ANSI terminal escapes to modify terminal contents in unexpected ways.. EPSS estimates a 0.31% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Versions of add-apt-repository before 0.98.9.2, 0.96.24.32.14, 0.96.20.10, and 0.92.37.8ubuntu0.1~esm1, printed a PPA (personal package archive) description to the terminal as-is, which allowed PPA owners to provide ANSI terminal escapes to modify terminal contents in unexpected ways.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.31%

23.0th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-20

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Canonical	Add-Apt-Repository	>= 0.92.37.0, < 0.92.37.8ubuntu0.1\~esm1
Canonical	Add-Apt-Repository	>= 0.96.20.0, < 0.96.20.10
Canonical	Add-Apt-Repository	>= 0.96.24.32.0, < 0.96.24.32.14
Canonical	Add-Apt-Repository	>= 0.98.9.0, < 0.98.9.2

References

https://git.launchpad.net/software-properties/commit/add-apt-repository?id=97e2fe7d181e8711e0f5253d3b8db40426c17f1ePatch, Third Party Advisory
https://git.launchpad.net/software-properties/commit/add-apt-repository?id=97e2fe7d181e8711e0f5253d3b8db40426c17f1ePatch, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Sep 5, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-15709?

How severe is CVE-2020-15709?

CVE-2020-15709 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.31% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-15709?

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-2020-15709?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST