# CVE-2020-13619: Locutus escapeshellarg command injection

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-13619-locutus-escapeshellarg-command-injection  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-07-26. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-13619 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2021-07-26

Locutus is a library that provides PHP standard library functions reimplemented in TypeScript/JavaScript. A command injection vulnerability in the escapeshellarg function allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on servers using affected versions, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Technologies: [locutus (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/locutus). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-13619 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2020-13619 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2020-13619?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 26 July 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** locutus (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,last_affected=2.0.11.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-13619?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2020-13619 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-13619?** Check whether you run locutus (npm) 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.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a command injection flaw (CWE-78) in the escapeshellarg function implementation within Locutus PHP through version 2.0.11. The vulnerable function fails to properly sanitize user-controlled input before passing it to shell commands, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary shell metacharacters and escape sequences. The attack requires no authentication and is network-reachable via any application using the vulnerable function to process untrusted input. A successful exploit grants the attacker remote code execution with the privileges of the application process. Patches are available in versions after 2.0.11.

## Affected products

- Locutus Locutus through 2.0.11

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-13619
- GHSA-h86x-mv66-gr5q

## Timeline

- 2020-07-01: disclosed
- 2021-07-26: advisory

## References

- [https://locutus.io/php](https://locutus.io/php)

## Related threats

- [Locutus prototype pollution in parse_str](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-33994-locutus-prototype-pollution-in-parse-str)
- [Locutus prototype pollution via __proto__ injection in unserialize](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-33993-locutus-prototype-pollution-via-proto-injection-in-unserialize)
- [Locutus code injection in create_function](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-32304-locutus-code-injection-in-create-function)
- [Locutus remote code execution in call_user_func_array](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-29091-locutus-remote-code-execution-in-call-user-func-array)
- [Locutus prototype pollution in parse_str function](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-25521-locutus-prototype-pollution-in-parse-str-function)