CVE-2020-13696

What it is

An issue was discovered in LinuxTV xawtv before 3.107. The function dev_open() in v4l-conf.c does not perform sufficient checks to prevent an unprivileged caller of the program from opening unintended filesystem paths. This allows a local attacker with access to the v4l-conf setuid-root program to test for the existence of arbitrary files and to trigger an open on arbitrary files with mode O_RDWR. To achieve this, relative path components need to be added to the device path, as demonstrated by a v4l-conf -c /dev/../root/.bash_history command.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2020-06-08 17:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 02:53 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 4.4 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2020-06-08 17:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 02:53 UTC

Exploit probability

0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-863 · Incorrect authorization

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linuxtv Xawtv < 3.107
• Debian Linux 8.0
• Opensuse Backports Sle 15.0
• Opensuse Leap 15.1
• Fedoraproject Fedora 31
• Fedoraproject Fedora 32
• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 16.04

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 4.4

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Low

Availability

None

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2020-13696.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2020-13696. 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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