CVE-2020-15862: Net-SNMP through 5.8 has Improper Privilege Management because SNMP WRITE access to the EXTEND MIB provides th

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-15862?

net-snmp: upgrade to 5.8.1; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; cloud backup: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-15862 being exploited?

CVE-2020-15862 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-2020-15862 affect?

CVE-2020-15862 affects net-snmp, ubuntu linux, cloud backup. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Net-SNMP through 5.8 has Improper Privilege Management because SNMP WRITE access to the EXTEND MIB provides the ability to run arbitrary commands as root.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-15862?

Priority 40/100. High severity; On your watchlist

This month

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-15862 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting net-snmp, ubuntu linux, cloud backup. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Net-SNMP through 5.8 has Improper Privilege Management because SNMP WRITE access to the EXTEND MIB provides the ability to run arbitrary commands as root.

Why this priority

High severity
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 68%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-269
Published	2020-08-20
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · net-snmp · netapp

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-08-20 01:17 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:57 UTCUpdated Record last modified

net-snmp net-snmp UPGRADE

Affected: < 5.8.1

Fixed in: 5.8.1

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy net-snmp || rpm -q net-snmp || net-snmp --version

2. UPGRADE to 5.8.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade net-snmp

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade net-snmp

Note

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

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 18.04 · 20.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

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.

netapp cloud backup 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 cloud-backup || rpm -q cloud-backup || cloud-backup --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

netapp hci management node 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 hci-management-node || rpm -q hci-management-node || hci-management-node --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

netapp smi-s provider 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 smi-s-provider || rpm -q smi-s-provider || smi-s-provider --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

netapp solidfire 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 solidfire || rpm -q solidfire || solidfire --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-2020-15862?

net-snmp: upgrade to 5.8.1; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; cloud backup: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-15862 being exploited?

CVE-2020-15862 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-2020-15862 affect?

CVE-2020-15862 affects net-snmp, ubuntu linux, cloud backup. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Net-SNMP through 5.8 has Improper Privilege Management because SNMP WRITE access to the EXTEND MIB provides the ability to run arbitrary commands as root.

How urgent is CVE-2020-15862?

Priority 40/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

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References

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