CVE-2019-15795Network attack vector

Altered package installation via MD5-only validation

Published Mar 26, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Broken package validation in Canonical python-apt 1.9.0ubuntu1 and earlier allows man-in-the-middle attackers to install altered packages. Version.fetch_binary() and Version.fetch_source() in apt/package.py accept an MD5 digest as sufficient integrity proof for downloaded files instead of requiring a stronger repository-provided hash. Exploitation requires interception and modification of package-download traffic, after which consumers of these methods accept attacker-altered package content.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Broken package validation in Canonical python-apt 1.9.0ubuntu1 and earlier allows man-in-the-middle attackers to install altered packages. Version.fetch_binary() and Version.fetch_source() in apt/package.py accept an MD5 digest as sufficient integrity proof for downloaded files instead of requiring a stronger repository-provided hash. Exploitation requires interception and modification of package-download traffic, after which consumers of these methods accept attacker-altered package content.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-15795
Published
Mar 26, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Canonical
Product
python-apt
Classifications
CWE-327, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 26, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0.8.3 <0.8.3ubuntu7.5
  2. Affected versionversion=0.9.3.5 <0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm2
  3. Affected versionversion=1.1.0 <1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7
  4. Affected versionversion=1.6.5 <1.6.5ubuntu0.1
  5. Affected versionversion=1.9.0 <1.9.0ubuntu1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Canonical · python-aptversion=0.8.3 <0.8.3ubuntu7.5; version=0.9.3.5 <0.9.3.5ubuntu3+esm2; version=1.1.0 <1.1.0~beta1ubuntu0.16.04.7; version=1.6.5 <1.6.5ubuntu0.1; version=1.9.0 <1.9.0ubuntu1.2

Published CVSS scores

4.7NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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