CVE-2020-11979: As mitigation for CVE-2020-1945 Apache Ant 1.10.8 changed the permissions of temporary files it created so tha

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HIGH 7.5REMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-11979 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting ant, gradle, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

As mitigation for CVE-2020-1945 Apache Ant 1.10.8 changed the permissions of temporary files it created so that only the current user was allowed to access them. Unfortunately the fixcrlf task deleted the temporary file and created a new one without said protection, effectively nullifying the effort. This would still allow an attacker to inject modified source files into the build process.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	7.8% (top 5%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-379
Published	2020-10-01
Last modified	2026-10-08

Publisher (CNA): Apache Software Foundation · Vendor: apache · fedoraproject · gradle · oracle

Last updated 2026-10-08 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-10-01 20:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-10-08 22:16 UTCUpdated Record last modified

apache ant DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.10.8

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.10.8

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.10.8 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ant sudo apt install ant=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.10.8> sudo apt-mark hold ant

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list ant sudo dnf downgrade ant-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.10.8> sudo dnf versionlock add ant

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

gradle gradle UPGRADE

Affected: < 6.8.0

Fixed in: 6.8.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 6.8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade gradle

Note

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

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 31 · 32 · 33

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 31

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.

oracle agile engineering data management DOWNGRADE

Affected: 6.2.1.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.2.1.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy agile-engineering-data-management || rpm -q agile-engineering-data-management || agile-engineering-data-management --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.2.1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison agile-engineering-data-management sudo apt install agile-engineering-data-management=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.2.1.0> sudo apt-mark hold agile-engineering-data-management

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list agile-engineering-data-management sudo dnf downgrade agile-engineering-data-management-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.2.1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add agile-engineering-data-management

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle api gateway DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.1.2.4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.1.2.4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy api-gateway || rpm -q api-gateway || api-gateway --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.1.2.4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison api-gateway sudo apt install api-gateway=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.1.2.4.0> sudo apt-mark hold api-gateway

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list api-gateway sudo dnf downgrade api-gateway-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.1.2.4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add api-gateway

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle banking platform DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.4.0 · 2.4.1 · 2.6.2 · 2.7.0 · 2.7.1 · 2.8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.4.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy banking-platform || rpm -q banking-platform || banking-platform --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison banking-platform sudo apt install banking-platform=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4.0> sudo apt-mark hold banking-platform

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list banking-platform sudo dnf downgrade banking-platform-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add banking-platform

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

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-2020-11979?

ant: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; gradle: upgrade to 6.8.0; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-11979 being exploited?

CVE-2020-11979 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-2020-11979 affect?

CVE-2020-11979 affects ant, gradle, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). As mitigation for CVE-2020-1945 Apache Ant 1.10.8 changed the permissions of temporary files it created so that only the current user was allowed to access them. Unfortunately the fixcrlf task deleted the temporary file and created a new on

How urgent is CVE-2020-11979?

Priority 60/100. High severity; EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

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References

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