Description
An issue was discovered in SaltStack Salt before 2019.2.4 and 3000 before 3000.2. The salt-master process ClearFuncs class does not properly validate method calls. This allows a remote user to access some methods without authentication. These methods can be used to retrieve user tokens from the salt master and/or run arbitrary commands on salt minions.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 10 | salt | 2018.3.4+dfsg1-6+deb10u1 | DSA-4676-1 |
| Debian 9 | salt | 2016.11.2+ds-1+deb9u3 | DSA-4676-2, DSA-4676-1 |
| Debian 8 | salt | 2014.1.13+ds-3+deb8u1 | DLA-2223-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | salt | 2017.7.4+dfsg1-1ubuntu18.04.2 | USN-4459-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | salt | 2015.8.8+ds-1ubuntu0.1 | USN-4459-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | salt | 0.17.5+ds-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-6849-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | python-distro | 1.5.0-3.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | python-distro | 1.5.0-3.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | salt | 2019.2.0-6.27.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1974-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1150-1 |
| SLES 15 | salt | 2019.2.0-5.67.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1973-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1151-1 |
| SLES 12 | python-singledispatch | 3.4.0.3-1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1 |
| SLES 12 | salt | 2019.2.0-46.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1147-1 |
Show 15 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 2 | python-distro | 1.5.0-3.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| SLES 2 | salt | 2019.2.0-6.27.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1974-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1150-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | salt | 2019.2.0-5.67.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1973-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1151-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.0 | python-distro | 1.5.0-3.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.0 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | salt | 2019.2.0-5.67.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1973-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1151-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 3.2 | python-singledispatch | 3.4.0.3-1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 3.2 | salt | 2019.2.0-46.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1147-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 3.2 | python-singledispatch | 3.4.0.3-1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 3.2 | salt | 2019.2.0-46.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1147-1 |
| SUSE Manager Client Tools 12 | python-singledispatch | 3.4.0.3-1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1 |
| SUSE Manager Client Tools 12 | salt | 2019.2.0-46.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1147-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 12 SP2 | python-singledispatch | 3.4.0.3-1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 12 SP2 | salt | 2019.2.0-46.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1, SUSE-SU-2020:1147-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | salt | 3002.2-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | salt | 2016.11.4-48.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1392-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | python-distro | 1.5.0-3.5.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | salt | 3002.2-lp152.3.36.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0899-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | salt | 2019.2.0-lp151.5.15.1 | openSUSE-SU-2020:1074-1, openSUSE-SU-2020:0564-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | salt | 3000.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | salt | 2019.2.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | salt | 2019.2.4-r0 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 2 modules
-
SaltStack Salt Master Server Root Key Disclosure
auxiliary/gather/saltstack_salt_root_key
-
SaltStack Salt Master/Minion Unauthenticated RCE
exploit/linux/misc/saltstack_salt_unauth_rce
Exploit-DB 1
- Saltstack 3000.1 - Remote Code Execution EDB-48421 · remote · May 5, 2020
GitHub 16 repositories · most starred shown
-
jasperla/CVE-2020-11651-poc ★ 123 · May 4, 2020
PoC exploit of CVE-2020-11651 and CVE-2020-11652
-
rossengeorgiev/salt-security-backports ★ 109 · May 1, 2020
Salt security backports for CVE-2020-11651 & CVE-2020-11652
-
dozernz/cve-2020-11651 ★ 106 · May 4, 2020
-
0xc0d/CVE-2020-11651 ★ 40 · May 4, 2020
CVE-2020-11651: Proof of Concept
-
ssrsec/CVE-2020-11651-CVE-2020-11652-EXP ★ 24 · May 7, 2020
CVE-2020-11651&&CVE-2020-11652 EXP
-
kevthehermit/CVE-2020-11651 ★ 6 · May 4, 2020
PoC for CVE-2020-11651
-
chef-cft/salt-vulnerabilities ★ 6 · May 1, 2020
Checks for CVE-2020-11651 and CVE-2020-11652
-
lovelyjuice/cve-2020-11651-exp-plus ★ 5 · May 7, 2020
-
bravery9/SaltStack-Exp ★ 5 · May 4, 2020
CVE-2020-11651&&CVE-2020-11652 EXP
-
appcheck-ng/salt-rce-scanner-CVE-2020-11651-CVE-2020-11652 ★ 2 · Nov 30, 2020
Scanning tool to test for SaltStack vulnerabilities CVE-2020-11651 & CVE-2020-11652.
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | salt | < 2019.2.4 | 2019.2.4 | GHSA-pjhf-vpx3-33r3 |
| PyPI | salt | >= 3000, < 3000.2 | 3000.2 | GHSA-pjhf-vpx3-33r3 |
| PyPI | salt | < 2019.2.4 · >= 3000, < 3000.2 | 2019.2.4, 3000.2 | PYSEC-2020-102 |
Advisories 19
- USN-6849-1 salt vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-4459-1 salt vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DSA-4676-2 salt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-4676-1 salt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2223-1 salt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1147-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1074-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1973-1 Security update for Salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1971-1 Security update for Salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1392-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0564-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1974-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2106-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0899-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1150-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1151-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2105-1 Security update for salt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- WID-SEC-2024-1449 SaltStack Salt: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Erlangen von Administratorrechten BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 25, 2024
References
- https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/2019.2.4.html
- https://github.com/saltstack/salt/blob/v3000.2_docs/doc/topics/releases/3000.2.rst
- openSUSE-SU-2020:0564 vendor-advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157560/Saltstack-3000.1-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- DSA-4676 vendor-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2020-0009.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/157678/SaltStack-Salt-Master-Minion-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- 20200528 SaltStack FrameWork Vulnerabilities Affecting Cisco Products vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200530 [SECURITY] [DLA 2223-1] salt security update mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2020:1074 vendor-advisory
- USN-4459-1 vendor-advisory