CVE-2020-16127: An Ubuntu-specific modification to AccountsService in versions before 0.6.55-0ubuntu13.2, among other earlier

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-16127?

accountsservice: upgrade to 0.6.55. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-16127 being exploited?

CVE-2020-16127 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-2020-16127 affect?

CVE-2020-16127 affects accountsservice. Severity is low (CVSS 2.8). An Ubuntu-specific modification to AccountsService in versions before 0.6.55-0ubuntu13.2, among other earlier versions, would perform unbounded read operations on user-controlled ~/.pam_environment files, allowing an infinite loop if /dev/z

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-16127?

Priority 29/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Routine

LOW 2.8WATCHLISTUPGRADE

CVE-2020-16127 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 2.8) affecting accountsservice. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An Ubuntu-specific modification to AccountsService in versions before 0.6.55-0ubuntu13.2, among other earlier versions, would perform unbounded read operations on user-controlled ~/.pam_environment files, allowing an infinite loop if /dev/zero is symlinked to this location.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	2.8 (Low)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 64%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20, CWE-835
Published	2020-11-11
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Canonical Ltd. · Vendor: freedesktop

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-11-11 04:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:57 UTCUpdated Record last modified

freedesktop accountsservice UPGRADE

Affected: < 0.6.55

Fixed in: 0.6.55

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 0.6.55 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade accountsservice

Note

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

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-2020-16127?

accountsservice: upgrade to 0.6.55. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-16127 being exploited?

CVE-2020-16127 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-2020-16127 affect?

CVE-2020-16127 affects accountsservice. Severity is low (CVSS 2.8). An Ubuntu-specific modification to AccountsService in versions before 0.6.55-0ubuntu13.2, among other earlier versions, would perform unbounded read operations on user-controlled ~/.pam_environment files, allowing an infinite loop if /dev/z

How urgent is CVE-2020-16127?

Priority 29/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-3297 HIGH 8.1 MITIGATE MITIGATE In Ubuntu's accountsservice an unprivileged local attacker can trigger a use-after-free vulnerability in accou
CVE-2022-1804 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE accountsservice no longer drops permissions when writting .pam_environment
CVE-2021-3939 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE MITIGATE Ubuntu-specific modifications to accountsservice (in patch file debian/patches/0010-set-language.patch) caused
CVE-2020-16126 LOW 3.3 UPGRADE An Ubuntu-specific modification to AccountsService in versions before 0.6.55-0ubuntu13.2, among other earlier
CVE-2018-14036 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE Directory Traversal with ../ sequences occurs in AccountsService before 0.6.50 because of an insufficient path

References

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