CVE-2020-36911: Covenant 0.1.3 - 0.5 contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to craft malicious J

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2020-36911 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting covenant. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Covenant 0.1.3 - 0.5 contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to craft malicious JWT tokens with administrative privileges. Attackers can generate forged tokens with admin roles and upload custom DLL payloads to execute arbitrary commands on the target system.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	12.3% (top 4%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-798
Published	2026-01-13
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): VulnCheck · Vendor: cobbr

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-01-13 23:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:16 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cobbr covenant UPGRADE

Affected: >= 0.1.3 and <= 0.5

Fixed in: newer than 0.5

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.1.3

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade covenant

Note

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

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.1.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison covenant sudo apt install covenant=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.1.3> sudo apt-mark hold covenant

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list covenant sudo dnf downgrade covenant-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.1.3> sudo dnf versionlock add covenant

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.

Exact fixes by distribution

Fedora 46 · jgmenu · FIXED · 4.7.0-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-3053ee4399 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-3053ee4399

Fedora ELN · python-tkrzw · FIXED · 0.1.32-12.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-0161d71544 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-0161d71544

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: github.com/Zeop-CyberSec/covenant_rce/blob/master/covenant_jwt_rce.rb
Write-up: web.archive.org/web/20201101052547/https://blog.null.farm/hunting-the-hunters
Write-up: www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51141

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-2020-36911?

covenant: upgrade to newer than 0.5. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-36911 being exploited?

CVE-2020-36911 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-2020-36911 affect?

CVE-2020-36911 affects covenant. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Covenant 0.1.3 - 0.5 contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to craft malicious JWT tokens with administrative privileges. Attackers can generate forged tokens with admin roles and upload custom DLL payloads to

How urgent is CVE-2020-36911?

Priority 71/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

References

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