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CVE-2020-12856: OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEMITIGATEMITIGATEUPGRADE

CVE-2020-12856 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting abtracetogether, abtracetogether, covidsafe. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, because of how Bluetooth is used.

Why this priority

  • Critical severity
  • EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited
  • Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score9.8 (Critical)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionNone
EPSS exploit chance5.1% (top 8%)
CISA exploited listNo
Published2020-05-18
Last modified2026-06-17
Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: alberta · health · tracetogether

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

alberta abtracetogether MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy abtracetogether || rpm -q abtracetogether || abtracetogether --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
alberta abtracetogether MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy abtracetogether || rpm -q abtracetogether || abtracetogether --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
health covidsafe UPGRADE
Affected: <= 1.0.17
Fixed in: newer than 1.0.17
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy covidsafe || rpm -q covidsafe || covidsafe --version
2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.0.17 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade covidsafe
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade covidsafe
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
health covidsafe MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy covidsafe || rpm -q covidsafe || covidsafe --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
tracetogether tracetogether MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy tracetogether || rpm -q tracetogether || tracetogether --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
tracetogether tracetogether MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy tracetogether || rpm -q tracetogether || tracetogether --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
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-2020-12856?

abtracetogether: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; abtracetogether: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; covidsafe: upgrade to newer than 1.0.17. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-12856 being exploited?

CVE-2020-12856 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-2020-12856 affect?

CVE-2020-12856 affects abtracetogether, abtracetogether, covidsafe. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). OpenTrace, as used in COVIDSafe through v1.0.17, TraceTogether, ABTraceTogether, and other applications on iOS and Android, allows remote attackers to conduct long-term re-identification attacks and possibly have unspecified other impact, b

How urgent is CVE-2020-12856?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

Android vulnerabilities · iOS vulnerabilities · Bluetooth vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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