CVE-2020-15961

Name: CVE-2020-15961
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2020-09-21T20:15:12.76+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

CRITICALCVSS 9.6/10EPSS 1.47%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2020-15961 is a critical-severity vulnerability rated 9.6/10 on the CVSS scale. Insufficient policy validation in extensions in Google Chrome prior to 85.0.4183.121 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted Chrome Extension.. EPSS estimates a 1.47% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

Insufficient policy validation in extensions in Google Chrome prior to 85.0.4183.121 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted Chrome Extension.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.6/10

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

EPSS Probability

1.47%

70.5th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Google	Chrome	< 85.0.4183.121	—
Opensuse	Backports Sle	15.0	Sp1
Opensuse	Leap	15.1	—
Opensuse	Leap	15.2	—
Fedoraproject	Fedora	31	—
Fedoraproject	Fedora	32	—
Fedoraproject	Fedora	33	—
Debian	Debian Linux	10.0	—

References

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00087.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00095.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00096.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00049.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_21.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://crbug.com/1114636Exploit, Issue Tracking, Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FN7HZIGAOCZKBT4LV363BCPRA5FLY25I/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GNIYFJST4TFJYFZ27VODBOINCLBGULTD/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YWNBJFBPKYCYSZTS54FHNCRZG6KC2AIJ/
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202009-13Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-30Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4824Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00087.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00095.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00096.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00049.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_21.htmlRelease Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://crbug.com/1114636Exploit, Issue Tracking, Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FN7HZIGAOCZKBT4LV363BCPRA5FLY25I/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GNIYFJST4TFJYFZ27VODBOINCLBGULTD/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YWNBJFBPKYCYSZTS54FHNCRZG6KC2AIJ/
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202009-13Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-30Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4824Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Sep 21, 2020
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2020-15961?

How severe is CVE-2020-15961?

CVE-2020-15961 has a CVSS score of 9.6/10 (CRITICAL severity). The EPSS model estimates a 1.47% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2020-15961?

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-2020-15961?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST