CVE-2020-10174: init_tmp in TeeJee.FileSystem.vala in Timeshift before 20.03 unsafely reuses a preexisting temporary directory

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-10174?

timeshift: upgrade to 20.03; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-10174 being exploited?

CVE-2020-10174 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-10174 affect?

CVE-2020-10174 affects timeshift, fedora, ubuntu linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.0). init_tmp in TeeJee.FileSystem.vala in Timeshift before 20.03 unsafely reuses a preexisting temporary directory in the predictable location /tmp/timeshift. It follows symlinks in this location or uses directories owned by unprivileged users.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-10174?

Priority 35/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Routine

HIGH 7.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-10174 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.0) affecting timeshift, fedora, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

init_tmp in TeeJee.FileSystem.vala in Timeshift before 20.03 unsafely reuses a preexisting temporary directory in the predictable location /tmp/timeshift. It follows symlinks in this location or uses directories owned by unprivileged users. Because Timeshift also executes scripts under this location, an attacker can attempt to win a race condition to replace scripts created by Timeshift with attacker-controlled scripts. Upon success, an attacker-

Why this priority

High severity
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.0 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 80%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-59, CWE-362
Published	2020-03-05
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · fedoraproject · timeshift project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-03-05 16:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:47 UTCUpdated Record last modified

timeshift project timeshift UPGRADE

Affected: < 20.03

Fixed in: 20.03

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy timeshift || rpm -q timeshift || timeshift --version

2. UPGRADE to 20.03 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade timeshift

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade timeshift

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 30 · 31 · 32

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 30

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 19.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 19.10

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2020-10174?

timeshift: upgrade to 20.03; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-10174 being exploited?

CVE-2020-10174 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2020-10174 affect?

CVE-2020-10174 affects timeshift, fedora, ubuntu linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.0). init_tmp in TeeJee.FileSystem.vala in Timeshift before 20.03 unsafely reuses a preexisting temporary directory in the predictable location /tmp/timeshift. It follows symlinks in this location or uses directories owned by unprivileged users.

How urgent is CVE-2020-10174?

Priority 35/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

References

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