# CVE-2020-17490: PYSEC-2020-105 - The TLS module within SaltStack Salt through 3002 creates certificates with weak file permissions.

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-17490-saltstack-salt-weak-file-permissions-in-tls-certificate-creation  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2020-11-06. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-17490 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2020-11-06

SaltStack Salt is a popular infrastructure automation and configuration management platform used by thousands of organizations to manage servers and network devices. A weakness in how the TLS module creates certificates allows local users with basic system access to read sensitive certificate files that should be protected, potentially exposing private encryption keys and compromising the security of the infrastructure.

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-2020-17490 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2020-17490 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2020-17490?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 6 November 2020.

**Which products and versions are affected?** salt (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=2015.8.10,introduced=2015.8.11,fixed=2015.8.13,introduced=2016.3.0,fixed=2016.3.4,introduced=2016.3.5,fixed=2016.3.6,introduced=2016.3.7,fixed=2016.3.8,introduced=2016.11.0,fixed=2016.11.3,introduced=2016.11.4,fixed=2016.11.6,introduced=2016.11.7,fixed=2016.11.10,introduced=2017.7.0,fixed=2017.7.4,introduced=2017.7.5,fixed=2017.7.8,introduced=2018.3.0rc1,fixed=2018.3.5,introduced=2019.2.0,fixed=2019.2.5,introduced=3000,fixed=3000.3; Saltstack Salt 0.x through 3002, see advisory for specific version ranges.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-17490?** Yes. salt (PyPI): upgrade to 3000.3 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-17490 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-17490?** 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 3000.3 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "salt>=3000.3"
  ```


## Technical details

The TLS module in SaltStack Salt creates certificate files with overly permissive file permissions (CWE-732), allowing any local user with basic system access to read certificate private keys and other sensitive cryptographic material. This is a local privilege information-disclosure vulnerability requiring local system access and low-level user privileges. An attacker with local access can extract private keys from the exposed certificate files, enabling them to impersonate the Salt master or intercept encrypted communications. The issue affects all versions up to 3002; patches are available in versions 2015.8.13, 2016.3.8, 2016.11.10, 2017.7.8, 2018.3.5, 2019.2.6, 3000.4, and 3001.2.

## Affected products

- SaltStack Salt 0.x through 3002, see advisory for specific version ranges

## Identifiers

- CVE-2020-17490
- GHSA-3c56-vx6v-q5vh
- PYSEC-2020-105

## Timeline

- 2020-11-06: disclosed
- 2022-05-24: advisory

## References

- [https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/index.html](https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/topics/releases/index.html)

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