CVE-2020-26273 json
sqlite ATTACH allows some filesystem access
published 2020-12-16 5 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2020-18851
- cvss
- 5.2
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 1.0%
- EPSS 1.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 61%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
osquery is a SQL powered operating system instrumentation, monitoring, and analytics framework. In osquery before version 4.6.0, by using sqlite's ATTACH verb, someone with administrative access to osquery can cause reads and writes to arbitrary sqlite databases on disk. This _does_ allow arbitrary files to be created, but they will be sqlite databases. It does not appear to allow existing non-sqlite files to be overwritten. This has been patched in osquery 4.6.0. There are several mitigating factors and possible workarounds. In some deployments, the people with access to these interfaces may be considered administrators. In some deployments, configuration is managed by a central tool. This tool can filter for the `ATTACH` keyword. osquery can be run as non-root user. Because this also limits the desired access levels, this requires deployment specific testing and configuration.
Patch / fix
Exploit prediction
0.95% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 61% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- github.com https://github.com/osquery/osquery/security/advisories/GHSA-4g56-2482-x7q8 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
- github.com https://github.com/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings/blob/master/SQL%20Injection/SQLite%20Injection.md#remote-command-execution-using-sqlite-command---load_extension referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 5.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N |
| NVD | 3.1 | 5.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N |
| NVD | 2.0 | 3.6 | AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N |
Affected products
- osquery osquery
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-77 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command
References
-
github.com
/osquery/osquery/commit/c3f9a3dae22d43ed3b4f6a403cbf89da4cba7c3c
patch, third-party-advisory
-
github.com
/osquery/osquery/security/advisories/GHSA-4g56-2482-x7q8
exploit, third-party-advisory
-
github.com
/swisskyrepo/PayloadsAllTheThings/blob/master/SQL%20Injection/SQLite%20Injection.md#remote-command-execution-u
exploit, third-party-advisory
-
github.com
/osquery/osquery/releases/tag/4.6.0
release-notes, third-party-advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2020-26273
- NVD CVE-2020-26273
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