# CVE-2020-15278: Unauthorized privilege escalation in Mod module

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-15278-unauthorized-privilege-escalation-in-mod-module  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2020-10-28  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-15278 · Severity: low · CVSS 3 · Published 2020-10-28

Red Discord Bot before version 3.4.1 has an unauthorized privilege escalation exploit in the Mod module. This exploit allows Discord users with a high privilege level within the guild to bypass hierarchy checks when the application is in a specific condition that is beyond that user's control. By abusing this exploit, it is possible to perform destructive actions within the guild the user has high privileges in. This exploit has been fixed in version 3.4.1. As a workaround, unloading the Mod module with unload mod or, disabling the massban command with command disable global massban can render this exploit not accessible. We still highly recommend updating to 3.4.1 to completely patch this issue.

Technologies: [red-discordbot (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/red-discordbot). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-15278 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2020-15278 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2020-15278?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3, published 28 October 2020.

**Which products and versions are affected?** red-discordbot (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.4.1, GIT:introduced=0,fixed=726bfd38adfdfaef760412a68e01447b470f438b|ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.4.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-15278?** Yes. red-discordbot (PyPI): upgrade to 3.4.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-15278?** Check whether you run red-discordbot (PyPI) 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

- red-discordbot (PyPI): upgrade to 3.4.1 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "red-discordbot>=3.4.1"
  ```


## Affected products

- red-discordbot (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.4.1, GIT:introduced=0,fixed=726bfd38adfdfaef760412a68e01447b470f438b|ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.4.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-15278
- GHSA-mp9m-g7qj-6vqr
- PYSEC-2020-267

## Related threats

- [PYSEC-2026-1865 - Red-DiscordBot vulnerable to Incorrect Authorization in commands API](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-39905-red-discordbot-vulnerable-to-incorrect-authorization-in-commands)
- [Duplicate Advisory: Unauthorized privilege escalation in Mod module](https://junglewise.ai/threats/duplicate-advisory-unauthorized-privilege-escalation-in-mod-module-75e685bc)
- [Remote Code Execution in Red Discord Bot](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-15147-remote-code-execution-in-red-discord-bot)
- [Remote Code Execution in Red Discord Bot](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-15140-remote-code-execution-in-red-discord-bot)