Improper authorization in gnome-shell
Priority LOW 21CWE-285Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · Low · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-285.
Summary
It was discovered that the gnome-shell lock screen since version 3.15.91 did not properly restrict all contextual actions. An attacker with physical access to a locked workstation could invoke certain keyboard shortcuts, and potentially other actions.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00498 42nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNOME | gnome-shell | since 3.15.91 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- gnome-shell VendorGNOME Affected since 3.15.91 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome-shell:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.15.91 to before 3.30.3; 3.31.0 to before 3.31.5 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.0 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 42.3 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 18.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome-shell:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.15.91 to before 3.30.3; 3.31.0 to before 3.31.5 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.0 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 42.3 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 18.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2020:1021 Released 2020-03-31 · Red Hat rating ModerateGNOME security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) LibRaw-0.19.4-1.el7, accountsservice-0.6.50-7.el7, accountsservice-libs-0.6.50-7.el7 +35
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) LibRaw-devel-0.19.4-1.el7, LibRaw-static-0.19.4-1.el7, accountsservice-devel-0.6.50-7.el7 +35
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) colord-1.3.4-2.el7, colord-libs-1.3.4-2.el7, gsettings-desktop-schemas-3.28.0-3.el7 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) accountsservice-0.6.50-7.el7, accountsservice-devel-0.6.50-7.el7, accountsservice-libs-0.6.50-7.el7 +27
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) LibRaw-0.19.4-1.el7, accountsservice-0.6.50-7.el7, accountsservice-libs-0.6.50-7.el7 +47
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) LibRaw-devel-0.19.4-1.el7, LibRaw-static-0.19.4-1.el7, accountsservice-devel-0.6.50-7.el7 +45
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) LibRaw-0.19.4-1.el7, accountsservice-0.6.50-7.el7, accountsservice-libs-0.6.50-7.el7 +40
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) LibRaw-devel-0.19.4-1.el7, LibRaw-static-0.19.4-1.el7, accountsservice-devel-0.6.50-7.el7 +30
- RHSA-2019:3553 Released 2019-11-05 · Red Hat rating LowGNOME security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) accountsservice-devel-0.6.50-7.el8, gdk-pixbuf2-xlib-2.36.12-5.el8, gdk-pixbuf2-xlib-devel-2.36.12-5.el8 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) SDL-1.2.15-35.el8, SDL-devel-1.2.15-35.el8, accountsservice-0.6.50-7.el8 +47
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) gdk-pixbuf2-2.36.12-5.el8, gsettings-desktop-schemas-3.32.0-3.el8, mozjs60-60.9.0-3.el8
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.5 for RHEL 7 Server | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.6 for RHEL 7 | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3553 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3553 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:3553 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1021 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-3820
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jh4v-7q79-jf56
References
More Gnome-shell vulnerabilities
- TI-2017-05858 gnome-shell 3.22 through 3.24.1 mishandles extensions that fail to reload, which can lead… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.1
- TI-2012-03769 The gnome-shell plugin 3.4.1 in GNOME allows remote attackers to force the download and… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.8
- TI-2014-06083 GNOME Shell 3.14.x before 3.14.1, when the Screen Lock feature is used, does not limit… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2010-03796 gnome-shell in GNOME Shell 2.31.5 places a zero-length directory name in the… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2021-03604 A locking protection bypass flaw was found in some versions of gnome-shell as shipped… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2023-23090 Gnome-shell: screenshot tool allows viewing open windows when session is locked CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
Sources
- CVE-2019-3820 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-3820 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jh4v-7q79-jf56 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2019-3820 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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