CVE-2020-13568: SQL injection vulnerability exists in phpGACL 3.3.7

This week

HIGH 8.8DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-13568 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting openemr, phpgacl. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

SQL injection vulnerability exists in phpGACL 3.3.7. A specially crafted HTTP request can lead to a SQL injection. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability in admin/edit_group.php, when the POST parameter action is “Submit”, the POST parameter parent_id leads to a SQL injection.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	29.7% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-89
Published	2021-04-13
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Talos · Vendor: open-emr · phpgacl project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-04-13 15:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:53 UTCUpdated Record last modified

open-emr openemr DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.0.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.0.2

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.0.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison openemr sudo apt install openemr=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.0.2> sudo apt-mark hold openemr

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

dnf --showduplicates list openemr sudo dnf downgrade openemr-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.0.2> sudo dnf versionlock add openemr

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.

phpgacl project phpgacl DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.3.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.3.7

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.3.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison phpgacl sudo apt install phpgacl=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.3.7> sudo apt-mark hold phpgacl

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

dnf --showduplicates list phpgacl sudo dnf downgrade phpgacl-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.3.7> sudo dnf versionlock add phpgacl

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-2020-13568?

openemr: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; phpgacl: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-13568 being exploited?

CVE-2020-13568 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-2020-13568 affect?

CVE-2020-13568 affects openemr, phpgacl. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). SQL injection vulnerability exists in phpGACL 3.3.7. A specially crafted HTTP request can lead to a SQL injection. An attacker can send an HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability in admin/edit_group.php, when the POST parameter action is

How urgent is CVE-2020-13568?

Priority 60/100. High severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Software pages

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References

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