CVE-2020-1955: CouchDB version 3.0.0 shipped with a new configuration setting that governs access control to the entire datab

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADE

CVE-2020-1955 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting couchdb. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

CouchDB version 3.0.0 shipped with a new configuration setting that governs access control to the entire database server called `require_valid_user_except_for_up`. It was meant as an extension to the long standing setting `require_valid_user`, which in turn requires that any and all requests to CouchDB will have to be made with valid credentials, effectively forbidding any anonymous requests. The new `require_valid_user_except_for_up` is an off-b

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.8% (top 21%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-306
Published	2020-05-20
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Apache Software Foundation · Vendor: apache

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-05-20 14:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

apache couchdb DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.0.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison couchdb sudo apt install couchdb=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold couchdb

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

dnf --showduplicates list couchdb sudo dnf downgrade couchdb-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add couchdb

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-2020-1955?

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

Is CVE-2020-1955 being exploited?

CVE-2020-1955 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-2020-1955 affect?

CVE-2020-1955 affects couchdb. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). CouchDB version 3.0.0 shipped with a new configuration setting that governs access control to the entire database server called `require_valid_user_except_for_up`. It was meant as an extension to the long standing setting `require_valid_use

How urgent is CVE-2020-1955?

Priority 64/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-45725 MEDIUM 5.7 UPGRADE Design document functions which receive a user http request object may expose authorization or session cookie
CVE-2023-26268 MEDIUM 4.4 UPGRADE UPGRADE Design documents with matching document IDs, from databases on the same cluster, may share a mutable Javascrip
CVE-2022-24706 CRITICAL 9.8 EXPLOITED UPGRADE Apache CouchDB Insecure Default Initialization of Resource Vulnerability
CVE-2021-38295 HIGH 7.3 UPGRADE In Apache CouchDB, a malicious user with permission to create documents in a database is able to attach a HTML
CVE-2018-8007 HIGH 7.2 UPGRADE Apache CouchDB administrative users can configure the database server via HTTP(S)

References

← Back to latest CVEs