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Findings

CVE-2020-16846

SaltStack Salt Shell Injection Vulnerability

Published Nov 6, 2020 · updated Jun 16, 2026 · saltstack salt

SaltStack Salt allows an unauthenticated user with network access to the Salt API to use shell injections to run code on the Salt API using the SSH client. This vulnerability affects any users running the Salt API.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Nov 6, 2020 · Catalog

    Detected

    SaltStack Salt allows an unauthenticated user with network access to the Salt API to use shell injections to run code on the Salt API using the SSH client. This vulnerability affects any users running the Salt API.

  2. Nov 3, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. May 3, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    SaltStack Salt allows an unauthenticated user with network access to the Salt API to use shell injections to run code on the Salt API using the SSH client. This vulnerability affects any users running the Salt API.

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date May 3, 2022

Affected

  • cpe debian/debian linux9.0
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora31
  • cpe opensuse/leap15.1
  • cpe saltstack/saltversion unspecified
  • vendor SaltStack Saltversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2020-16846

    SaltStack Salt allows an unauthenticated user with network access to the Salt API to use shell injections to run code on the Salt API using the SSH client. This vulnerability affects any users running the Salt API.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2020-16846

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2020-16846

    30-day exploitation probability 99.6%

    first.org
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_linux/http/saltstack_salt_api_cmd_exec

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2020-16846

    An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt through 3002. Sending crafted web requests to the Salt API, with the SSH client enabled, can result in shell injection.

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/160039/SaltStack-Salt-REST-API-Arbitrary-Command-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References