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CVE-2020-16846

CriticalPublished

SaltStack Salt Shell Injection Vulnerability

Published: Nov 6, 2020
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
Assigning CNA: mitre
Evidence observed: Nov 3, 2021

Primary CVSS

9.8/ 10Critical

nvd · CVSS 3.1

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

EPSS probability estimate

99.6%

High · next 30 days

Percentile: 99.9%
Model date: Oct 17, 2026

EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.

CISA Known Exploited

This CVE appears in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Summary

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.

Sources

Repository evidence: Files: 3 · Repositories: 3

1 Module1 Template1 Lab

SaltStack Command Injection Remote Code ExecutionLab
saltstack/CVE-2020-16846
SaltStack Command Injection Remote Code Execution (CVE-2020-16846)
Vulhub vulnerability labs
ResearchEvidence observed: Sep 25, 2026Revision: 9b90d4276f84Related tool
Declared conditions
- lab image version: vulhub/saltstack:3002(saltstack/CVE-2020-16846/docker-compose.yml:services.saltstack.image)
SaltStack Salt REST API Arbitrary Command ExecutionModule
modules/exploits/linux/http/saltstack_salt_api_cmd_exec.rb
Metasploit Framework modules
ExploitEvidence observed: Sep 26, 2026Revision: b22ce1fbae63Related tool
Declared conditions
- platform: Linux,Unix($.exploit_linux/http/saltstack_salt_api_cmd_exec.platform)
- verification: check_declared($.exploit_linux/http/saltstack_salt_api_cmd_exec.check)
SaltStack <=3002 - Shell InjectionTemplate
http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-16846.yaml
Nuclei Templates
DetectionEvidence observed: Sep 26, 2026Revision: 17f5725dc10cRelated tool
Declared conditions
- network: http($.protocol_keys)
- verification: dsl,status,word($.matchers[*].type)

CVE-2020-16846-Saltstack-Salt-APIPoC
Docker-based lab environment for exploiting CVE-2020-16846, a shell injection vulnerability in SaltStack Salt API, with step-by-step exploitation instructions and reverse shell payload examples.
projet-secuExploit
Exploit for CVE-2020-16846 targeting SaltStack with automated vulnerability verification and exploitation capabilities.

Responsible use

Use vulnerability information only on systems you own or are authorized to test. Kitploit links to public research metadata and does not store exploit code or malicious payloads.