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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2020-27837

🗓️ 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 5 Views

CVE-2020-27837: GDM pre-3.38.2.1 race cond lets autologin bypass lock screen; like CVE-2017-12164.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
Circl
CVE-2020-27837
28 Dec 202022:28
circl
CNNVD
GNOME Display Manager 竞争条件问题漏洞
22 Dec 202000:00
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CNVD
GNOME Display Manager License Issue Vulnerability
23 Dec 202000:00
cnvd
CVE
CVE-2020-27837
28 Dec 202018:34
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2020-27837
28 Dec 202018:34
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2020-27837
28 Dec 202018:34
debiancve
EUVD
EUVD-2020-20336
7 Oct 202500:30
euvd
Fedora
[SECURITY] Fedora 33 Update: gdm-3.38.2.1-1.fc33
22 Dec 202001:30
fedora
Tenable Nessus
Fedora 33 : 1:gdm (2020-1650d8012f)
22 Dec 202000:00
nessus
Tenable Nessus
RHEL 6 : gdm (Unpatched Vulnerability)
11 May 202400:00
nessus
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(256215);
  script_version("1.1");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2025/08/27");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2020-27837");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2020-27837");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - A flaw was found in GDM in versions prior to 3.38.2.1. A race condition in the handling of session
    shutdown makes it possible to bypass the lock screen for a user that has autologin enabled, accessing
    their session without authentication. This is similar to CVE-2017-12164, but requires more difficult
    conditions to exploit. (CVE-2020-27837)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2020-27837");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2020-27837");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2020/12/19");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/27");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:gdm3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gdm3"},
          {"reference": "gir1.2-gdm-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libgdm-dev"},
          {"reference": "libgdm1"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gdm3"},
          {"reference": "gir1.2-gdm-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libgdm-dev"},
          {"reference": "libgdm1"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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27 Aug 2025 00:00Current
5.8Medium risk
Vulners AI Score5.8
CVSS 24.4
CVSS 3.16.4
EPSS0.00041
5