CVE-2020-17489: An issue was discovered in certain configurations of GNOME gnome-shell through 3.36.4

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-17489?

gnome-shell: upgrade to newer than 3.36.4; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-17489 being exploited?

CVE-2020-17489 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-2020-17489 affect?

CVE-2020-17489 affects gnome-shell, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.3). An issue was discovered in certain configurations of GNOME gnome-shell through 3.36.4. When logging out of an account, the password box from the login dialog reappears with the password still visible. If the user had decided to have the pas

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-17489?

Priority 37/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Routine

MEDIUM 4.3WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2020-17489 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.3) affecting gnome-shell, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in certain configurations of GNOME gnome-shell through 3.36.4. When logging out of an account, the password box from the login dialog reappears with the password still visible. If the user had decided to have the password shown in cleartext at login time, it is then visible for a brief moment upon a logout. (If the password were never shown in cleartext, only the password length is revealed.)

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.3 (Medium)
Attack vector	Physical
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 54%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-522
Published	2020-08-11
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · gnome · opensuse

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-08-11 21:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnome gnome-shell UPGRADE

Affected: <= 3.36.4

Fixed in: newer than 3.36.4

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gnome-shell || rpm -q gnome-shell || gnome-shell --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 3.36.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade gnome-shell

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade gnome-shell

Note

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

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 20.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 20.04

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.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

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.

opensuse leap MITIGATE

Affected: 15.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.2

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.

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-2020-17489?

gnome-shell: upgrade to newer than 3.36.4; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-17489 being exploited?

CVE-2020-17489 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-2020-17489 affect?

CVE-2020-17489 affects gnome-shell, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.3). An issue was discovered in certain configurations of GNOME gnome-shell through 3.36.4. When logging out of an account, the password box from the login dialog reappears with the password still visible. If the user had decided to have the pas

How urgent is CVE-2020-17489?

Priority 37/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-43090 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability was found in GNOME Shell
CVE-2021-3982 MEDIUM 5.5 MITIGATE Linux distributions using CAP_SYS_NICE for gnome-shell may be exposed to a privilege escalation issue
CVE-2021-20315 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE A locking protection bypass flaw was found in some versions of gnome-shell as shipped within CentOS Stream 8,

References

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