CVE-2020-10174

7.0 HIGH 0.3% exploit odds Fix listed

What it is

init_tmp in TeeJee.FileSystem.vala in Timeshift before 20.03 unsafely reuses a preexisting temporary directory in the predictable location /tmp/timeshift. It follows symlinks in this location or uses directories owned by unprivileged users. Because Timeshift also executes scripts under this location, an attacker can attempt to win a race condition to replace scripts created by Timeshift with attacker-controlled scripts. Upon success, an attacker-controlled script is executed with full root privileges. This logic is practically always triggered when Timeshift runs regardless of the command-line arguments used.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2020-03-05 16:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 02:47 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 7.0 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2020-03-05 16:15 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 02:47 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.3% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-59
Record status: Modified

Affected

Timeshift Project Timeshift < 20.03
Fedoraproject Fedora 30
Fedoraproject Fedora 31
Fedoraproject Fedora 32
Canonical Ubuntu Linux 19.10

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.0

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: High
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Is it in your code?

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Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2020-10174.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2020-10174. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record