CVE-2019-15796Network attack vector

Untrusted package downloads via missing signature checks

Published Mar 26, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Improper trust validation in Canonical python-apt 1.9.3ubuntu2 and earlier allows remote attackers to download unsigned packages. Version.fetch_binary, Version.fetch_source, and Cache._fetch_archives fail to verify that package hashes originate from a signed repository. Exploitation requires user interaction and an unsigned repository, exposing the package workflow to untrusted content.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.51%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper trust validation in Canonical python-apt 1.9.3ubuntu2 and earlier allows remote attackers to download unsigned packages. Version.fetch_binary, Version.fetch_source, and Cache._fetch_archives fail to verify that package hashes originate from a signed repository. Exploitation requires user interaction and an unsigned repository, exposing the package workflow to untrusted content.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-15796
Published
Mar 26, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Canonical
Product
python-apt
Classifications
CWE-347, CWE-287
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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
  6. Affected versionversion=1.9.5 <1.9.5

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; version=1.9.5 <1.9.5

Published CVSS scores

4.7Canonical Ltd.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
2.6NIST NVDAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/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-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
CWE-287Improper Authentication

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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