# CVE-2020-11652: SaltStack Salt is vulnerable Arbitrary Directory Access

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-11652-saltstack-salt-path-traversal-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2020-04-30. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-11652 · Severity: critical · CVSS 3.1 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2020-04-30

The salt-master process ClearFuncs class in SaltStack Salt contains a path traversal vulnerability due to improper sanitization of paths in certain methods. This allows authenticated users to gain arbitrary directory access on the master server.

Technologies: [salt (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-salt), [Saltstack Salt](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/salt). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi), [Saltstack](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/saltstack).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-11652 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-11652 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-11652?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 30 April 2020.

**Which products and versions are affected?** salt (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=2019.2.4, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=2019.2.4,introduced=3000,fixed=3000.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-11652?** Yes. salt (PyPI): upgrade to 2019.2.4, 3000.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-11652 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-11652?** Check whether you run salt (PyPI) or Saltstack Salt at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- salt (PyPI): upgrade to 2019.2.4, 3000.2 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "salt>=3000.2"
  ```


## Affected products

- SaltStack Salt before 2019.2.4, 3000 before 3000.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-11652
- GHSA-vp49-2g4r-m3x3
- PYSEC-2020-103

## Timeline

- 2020-04-30: patched: Salt 2019.2.4 and 3000.2 released to address the issue.
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
- 2021-11-03: disclosed

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